Sony A330 vs Sony S980

Below, we will be looking at the Sony A330 versus Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A330 (10MP) and the S980 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the A330 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The A330 was launched 3 months later than the S980 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the A330 scores against the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony A330 Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Sony A330 has got external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs) and the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony A330 versus Sony S980 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the A330 vs the S980.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A330 and S980 is 67 and 94 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The visual below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A330 and S980.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A330 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony S980 will show more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots much more aggressively.