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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5T
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 NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Sony NEX-5R and Sony S980, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the NEX-5R (16MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NEX-5R (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-5R was brought out 3 years after the S980 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the NEX-5R grades versus the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Sony S980

 NEX-5R S980 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2009Newer by 43 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony NEX-5R

 S980 NEX-5R 

Common features in the Sony NEX-5R and Sony S980

 NEX-5R S980 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-5R has exterior dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-5R and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the NEX-5R compared to the S980.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5R and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specifications. The picture below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5R and S980.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-5R featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony NEX-5R will give you greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NEX-5R should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
74
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-5R
Street photography with Sony S980
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5R as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
68
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
73
supports touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
Landscape photography with Sony S980
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
27
you can focus manually
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5R Vlogging factors
Sony S980 Vlogging factors
31
touchscreen
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
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Sony NEX-5R vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5R and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha NEX-5RSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5R Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-29 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4912 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 276 grams (0.61 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 78 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 910 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $750 $300