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Sony A6100 vs Sony S980

Portability
81
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77
Sony Alpha a6100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A6100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Bump to 51200)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 67 x 59mm
  • Announced August 2019
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets look closer at the Sony A6100 versus Sony S980, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the A6100 (24MP) and S980 (12MP) and the A6100 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The A6100 was revealed 10 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A6100 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 concise highlight of how the A6100 matches up against the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6100 over the Sony S980

 A6100 S980 
IntroducedAugust 2019February 2009Fresher by 129 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A6100

 S980 A6100 

Common features in the Sony A6100 and Sony S980

 A6100 S980 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A6100 features physical measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A6100 versus Sony S980 in the latest Camera and 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 utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the A6100 compared to the S980.

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A6100 and S980 is 81 and 94 respectively.

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A6100 and S980.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A6100 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A6100 will produce greater detail because of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern A6100 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6100 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
82
focusing manually
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
27
has manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A6100 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
79
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
very good ISO range (32,000)
lack of image stabilization
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6100 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
75
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
17
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A6100
Travel photography with Sony S980
86
supports bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (32,000)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6100 Vlogging highlights
Sony S980 Vlogging highlights
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic port
lack of image stabilization
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Sony A6100 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6100 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha a6100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a6100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2019-08-28 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 32000 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 425 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 11.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash settings Flash off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless, hi-speed Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396 gr (0.87 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $748 $300