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Sony A6500 vs Sony S980

Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Sony A6500 vs Sony S980, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the A6500 (24MP) and S980 (12MP) and the A6500 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The A6500 was released 7 years after the S980 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the A6500 matches up vs the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony S980

 A6500 S980 
AnnouncedOctober 2016February 2009More modern by 93 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A6500

 S980 A6500 

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony S980

 A6500 S980 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A6500 comes with physical dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the A6500 against the S980.

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A6500 and S980 is 81 and 94 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing specifications. The pic here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A6500 and S980.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A6500 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony A6500 will provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively. The more recent A6500 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
80
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography info
Sony S980 Street photography info
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
77
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (350 shots)
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A6500 Travel photography advice
Sony S980 Travel photography advice
74
environment proof
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
39
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Sony A6500 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha a6500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-10-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 425 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 453 gr (1.00 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 85 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1405 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,298 $300