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Sony A350 vs Sony S980

Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A380
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 A350 vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Sony A350 vs Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Sony. The image resolution of the A350 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the A350 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The A350 was revealed 8 months prior to the S980 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the A350 grades versus the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Sony S980

 A350 S980 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A350

 S980 A350 
IntroducedFebruary 2009June 2008More recent by 8 months

Common features in the Sony A350 and Sony S980

 A350 S980 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Sony A350 enjoys exterior measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A350 vs Sony S980 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the A350 against the S980.

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A350 and S980 is 62 and 94 respectively.

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The visual underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A350 and S980.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A350 using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony A350 will resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older A350 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A350 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A350
Portrait photography with Sony S980
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A350 Street photography details
Sony S980 Street photography details
66
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
heavier than others in class (674g)
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A350 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
17
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A350 Travel photography details
Sony S980 Travel photography details
51
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (674g)
display is not selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A350
Landscape photography with Sony S980
64
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
no Time Lapse function
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A350 Vlogging details
Sony S980 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
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Sony A350 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A350 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-06-06 2009-02-17
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 674 grams (1.49 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 65 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 595 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32 Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $600 $300