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Sony A7c vs Sony S980

Portability
78
Imaging
76
Features
88
Overall
80
Sony Alpha A7c front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A7c
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 509g - 124 x 71 x 60mm
  • Launched September 2020
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Sony A7c versus Sony S980, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the A7c (24MP) and S980 (12MP) and the A7c (Full frame) and S980 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A7c was launched 11 years after the S980 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A7c being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the A7c grades vs the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7c over the Sony S980

 A7c S980 
IntroducedSeptember 2020February 2009More modern by 141 months
Display typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A7c

 S980 A7c 

Common features in the Sony A7c and Sony S980

 A7c S980 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A7c has physical measurements of 124mm x 71mm x 60mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 2.4") having a weight of 509 grams (1.12 lbs) and the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A7c versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A7c vs the S980.

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A7c and S980 is 78 and 94 respectively.

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The pic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A7c and S980.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A7c featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A7c will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The more recent A7c is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7c as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
78
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A7c
Street photography with Sony S980
85
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A7c
Sports photography with Sony S980
88
quiet mode (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (740 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
17
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7c Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
86
great battery power (740 per charge)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
has touch focus
good megapixels (24MP)
selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7c Landscape photography highlights
Sony S980 Landscape photography highlights
88
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great battery power (740 shots)
27
you can focus manually
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7c Vlogging advice
Sony S980 Vlogging advice
86
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony A7c vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7c and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha A7cSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A7c Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2020-09-14 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 852.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 122 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/8000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 509g (1.12 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 71 x 60mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 2.4") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 740 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FZ100 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $1,800 $300