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Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980

Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5T
(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
  • Announced August 2013
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5R
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Sony NEX-5T versus Sony S980, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the NEX-5T (16MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NEX-5T (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-5T was unveiled 4 years after the S980 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the NEX-5T scores against the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 NEX-5T S980 
RevealedAugust 2013February 2009More modern by 56 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 S980 NEX-5T 

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

 NEX-5T S980 
Manual focus More exact focus

Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

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

See the Sony NEX-5T versus Sony S980 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the NEX-5T and the S980.

Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-5T and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

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

Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5T and S980.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-5T using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony NEX-5T will show greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NEX-5T will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography features
Sony S980 Portrait photography features
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5T Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5T as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
69
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
17
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5T Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
77
provides focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography highlights
Sony S980 Landscape photography highlights
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
27
manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-5T
Vlogging with Sony S980
73
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no image stabilization
missing microphone support
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Sony NEX-5T vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5T and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha NEX-5TSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5T Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-08-27 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 99 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO100) 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 276 gr (0.61 lb) 167 gr (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 Overall score 78 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1015 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $400 $300