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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980

Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the NEX-7 (24MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NEX-7 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-7 was revealed 2 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the NEX-7 grades vs the S980 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Sony S980

 NEX-7 S980 
AnnouncedDecember 2011February 2009Fresher by 35 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony NEX-7

 S980 NEX-7 

Common features in the Sony NEX-7 and Sony S980

 NEX-7 S980 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony NEX-7 has got physical measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Sony S980 has specifications 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 out the Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the NEX-7 against the S980.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-7 and S980 is 84 and 94 respectively.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-7 and S980.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NEX-7 using its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony NEX-7 will result in more detail because of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger NEX-7 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-7 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
78
you can focus manually
MP count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Street photography details
Sony S980 Street photography details
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
62
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (430 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-7
Travel photography with Sony S980
70
great battery power (430 CIPA)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography details
Sony S980 Landscape photography details
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
MP count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (430 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
27
you can focus manually
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Vlogging details
Sony S980 Vlogging details
35
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-7 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha NEX-7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-12-13 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 16000 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.73x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 400 grams (0.88 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
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 Overall rating 81 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1016 not tested
Other
Battery life 430 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) 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 Single Single
Retail price $699 $300