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Sony H70 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony H70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 194g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced January 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
  • Launched February 2009
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Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony H70 vs Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the H70 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The H70 was announced 23 months later than the S980 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the H70 scores versus the S980 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony H70 over the Sony S980

 H70 S980 
LaunchedJanuary 2011February 2009More recent by 23 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony H70

 S980 H70 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Sony H70 and Sony S980

 H70 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony H70 offers outside dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 194 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony H70 vs Sony S980 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the H70 vs the S980.

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the H70 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specs. The graphic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the H70 and S980.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Sony H70 to offer greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent H70 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony H70 Portrait photography advice
Sony S980 Portrait photography advice
30
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony H70
Street photography with Sony S980
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony H70 Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
17
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony H70 Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
67
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony H70 Landscape photography details
Sony S980 Landscape photography details
43
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
27
you can focus manually
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony H70
Vlogging with Sony S980
29
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
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Sony H70 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H70 and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Clear Photo LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.60 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 194g (0.43 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 model NP-BG1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $199 $300