Sony A99 II vs Sony S980

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony A99 II versus Sony S980, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the A99 II (42MP) and S980 (12MP) and the A99 II (Full frame) and S980 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The A99 II was released 7 years later than the S980 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the A99 II scores against the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha A99 II & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The complete galleries are available at Sony A99 II Gallery & Sony S980 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A99 II has external measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") with a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony A99 II versus Sony S980 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the A99 II against the S980.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A99 II and S980 is 57 and 94 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A99 II and S980.

To sum up, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A99 II because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony A99 II will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 30MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer A99 II is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.