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Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980

Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Released March 2013
  • New Model is Sony A6000
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 NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the NEX-6 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NEX-6 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-6 was launched 4 years after the S980 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the NEX-6 scores against the S980 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Sony S980

 NEX-6 S980 
ReleasedMarch 2013February 2009Newer by 50 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony NEX-6

 S980 NEX-6 

Common features in the Sony NEX-6 and Sony S980

 NEX-6 S980 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-6 has got exterior measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-6 vs 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 dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-6 versus the S980.

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-6 and S980 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specifications. The picture below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-6 and S980.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-6 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony NEX-6 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger NEX-6 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography info
Sony S980 Portrait photography info
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-6 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
78
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (345 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-6 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
66
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-6 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
75
lighter than competition (345g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography details
Sony S980 Landscape photography details
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
27
has manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-6
Vlogging with Sony S980
32
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (345 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Sony NEX-6 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-6 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha NEX-6Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-03-25 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45� -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.73x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 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 file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 345 grams (0.76 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 78 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1018 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $365 $300