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Sony RX1 vs Sony S980

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced February 2013
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 RX1 vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Sony RX1 versus Sony S980, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the RX1 (24MP) and S980 (12MP) and the RX1 (Full frame) and S980 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The RX1 was announced 4 years after the S980 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the RX1 matches up vs the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony S980

 RX1 S980 
RevealedFebruary 2013February 2009More modern by 49 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony RX1

 S980 RX1 

Common features in the Sony RX1 and Sony S980

 RX1 S980 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony RX1 enjoys exterior measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony RX1 versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the RX1 and the S980.

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RX1 and S980 is 79 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the RX1 and S980.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The RX1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony RX1 will deliver more detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The fresher RX1 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
82
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (482 grams)
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX1 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
53
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1 Travel photography factors
Sony S980 Travel photography factors
62
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
great max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (270 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (482 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony S980 Landscape photography highlights
65
focusing manually
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1 Vlogging highlights
Sony S980 Vlogging highlights
34
great max aperture (f2.0)
provides face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (482g)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
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Sony RX1 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1 and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-02-19 2009-02-17
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 852.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35mm (1x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-22.0 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,229k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Xtra FineTFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic and Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/4000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 482g (1.06 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 93 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2534 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $2,798 $300