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Sony A330 vs Sony S980

Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A300
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
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Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Overview

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.

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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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Sony S980

 A330 S980 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A330

 S980 A330 

Common features in the Sony A330 and Sony S980

 A330 S980 
ReleasedMay 2009February 2009Same generation
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 size comparison

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

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

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.

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A330 Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
62
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A330
Street photography with Sony S980
75
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A330 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
50
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
low battery life (230 per charge)
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A330
Travel photography with Sony S980
44
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A330 Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
54
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery life (230 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A330
Vlogging with Sony S980
9
no video recording
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
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Sony A330 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A330 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-05-18 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 529 gr (1.17 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 535 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $545 $300