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Sony HX10V vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
42
Features
46
Overall
43
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony HX10V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-400mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 234g - 105 x 60 x 34mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Later Model is Sony HX20V
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Sony HX10V and Sony S980, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the HX10V (18MP) and S980 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The HX10V was announced 3 years after the S980 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the HX10V matches up vs the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX10V over the Sony S980

 HX10V S980 
RevealedFebruary 2012February 2009More modern by 37 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony HX10V

 S980 HX10V 
Focus manually More precise focus

Common features in the Sony HX10V and Sony S980

 HX10V S980 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony HX10V enjoys outside dimensions of 105mm x 60mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 234 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX10V and Sony S980 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the HX10V compared to the S980.

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the HX10V and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through specs. The picture below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX10V and S980.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony HX10V to result in greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The newer HX10V is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX10V Portrait photography advice
Sony S980 Portrait photography advice
38
MP count good (18 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
27
has manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX10V Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (234 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX10V Sports photography highlights
Sony S980 Sports photography highlights
49
amazing zoom range (24-400mm 16.7 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
17
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX10V Travel photography details
Sony S980 Travel photography details
69
lighter than average (234 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (400mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX10V as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
45
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
27
has manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX10V as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
34
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (234g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Sony HX10V vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX10V and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10VSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-02-28 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-400mm (16.7x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 234g (0.52 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 60 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 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 320 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BG1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $616 $300