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Sony QX30 vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Overview

The following is a extensive review of the Sony QX30 versus Sony S980, one is a Lens-style and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the QX30 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The QX30 was released 5 years after the S980 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a brief summary of how the QX30 scores against the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony S980

 QX30 S980 
IntroducedSeptember 2014February 2009Newer by 68 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony QX30

 S980 QX30 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display dimension2.7""Larger display (+2.7")
Display resolution230k0kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony QX30 and Sony S980

 QX30 S980 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony QX30 enjoys outer measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony QX30 versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the QX30 vs the S980.

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the QX30 and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specifications. The picture underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the QX30 and S980.

To sum up, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony QX30 to give you more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher QX30 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
38
MP count good (20MP)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
focusing manually
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
62
image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
47
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
17
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
65
supports focus via touch
MP count good (20 megapixels)
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony QX30 Landscape photography information
Sony S980 Landscape photography information
39
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
27
focusing manually
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony QX30 Vlogging features
Sony S980 Vlogging features
35
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing mic port
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
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Sony QX30 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony QX30 and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Lens-style Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-09-03 2009-02-17
Physical type Lens-style 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias 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 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.3 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size - 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 0 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings None Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BN, -
Self timer Yes (2, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $348 $300