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Sony A450 vs Sony S980

Portability
65
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A450
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 560g - 137 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced January 2010
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
  • Released February 2009
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Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Sony A450 and Sony S980, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A450 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very similar but the A450 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The A450 was unveiled 11 months later than the S980 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the A450 grades versus the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A450 over the Sony S980

 A450 S980 
ReleasedJanuary 2010February 2009More recent by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A450

 S980 A450 

Common features in the Sony A450 and Sony S980

 A450 S980 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A450 has got outside measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony A450 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A450 versus the S980.

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A450 and S980 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A450 and S980.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A450 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A450 will offer more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent A450 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A450
Portrait photography with Sony S980
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
27
manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A450 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A450 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
77
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
17
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A450 Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
60
great battery life (1,050 CIPA)
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A450 Landscape photography factors
Sony S980 Landscape photography factors
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,050 CIPA)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have Time Lapse function
27
manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A450
Vlogging with Sony S980
9
no video shooting
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Sony A450 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A450 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A450Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-01-05 2009-02-17
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
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
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Clear Photo Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Wireless/ High Speed Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 769 not tested
Other
Battery life 1050 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,241 $300