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Sony H300 vs Sony S980

Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony H300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3-5.9) lens
  • 590g - 130 x 95 x 122mm
  • Introduced February 2014
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 H300 vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Sony H300 versus Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the H300 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The H300 was unveiled 5 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony H300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the H300 scores versus the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony H300 over the Sony S980

 H300 S980 
ReleasedFebruary 2014February 2009More recent by 61 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony H300

 S980 H300 
Manually focus More precise focus

Common features in the Sony H300 and Sony S980

 H300 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony H300 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs) while the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony H300 versus Sony S980 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the H300 versus the S980.

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the H300 and S980 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the H300 and S980.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony H300 to result in more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent H300 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H300 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony H300 Portrait photography advice
Sony S980 Portrait photography advice
40
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
27
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony H300 Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
43
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competitors (590 grams)
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony H300 Sports photography information
Sony S980 Sports photography information
50
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
features tracking focus
good battery (350 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony H300 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
56
good battery (350 per charge)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (875mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (590 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3)
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony H300 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
47
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
good battery (350 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse function
27
has manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony H300 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
24
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
heavier than competitors (590g)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
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Sony H300 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H300 and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-02-13 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz(R) -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-875mm (35.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Clear Photo LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Viewfinder resolution 201k dots -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.80 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off, Advanced Flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 590g (1.30 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (Off, 10 sec, 2 sec, portrait1, portrait2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $249 $300