Sony HX50V vs Sony S980

Below, we will be looking at the Sony HX50V and Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the HX50V (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The HX50V was brought out 4 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the HX50V matches up versus the S980 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The entire galleries are viewable at Sony HX50V Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Sony HX50V has got outer measurements of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony HX50V and Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the HX50V vs the S980.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX50V and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the HX50V and S980.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony HX50V to provide greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The fresher HX50V should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.