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Sony HX400V vs Sony S980

Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Old Model is Sony HX300
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Sony HX400V versus Sony S980, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the HX400V (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The HX400V was manufactured 5 years after the S980 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the HX400V matches up versus the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Sony S980

 HX400V S980 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014February 2009More modern by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony HX400V

 S980 HX400V 

Common features in the Sony HX400V and Sony S980

 HX400V S980 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony HX400V provides external dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) and the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony HX400V versus Sony S980 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the HX400V and the S980.

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX400V and S980 is 62 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The picture below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX400V and S980.

To sum up, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX400V to offer you greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer HX400V provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX400V Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
51
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
provides face detection autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX400V
Street photography with Sony S980
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than average (660 grams)
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX400V Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX400V
Travel photography with Sony S980
53
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (660 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX400V
Landscape photography with Sony S980
49
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
27
manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony HX400V
Vlogging with Sony S980
29
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (660 grams)
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
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Sony HX400V vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX400V and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400VSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-02-12 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.3 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.50 m (ISO Auto) 3.50 m
Flash options Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 660 grams (1.46 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") 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 life 300 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $448 $300