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Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980

Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Announced March 2016
  • Previous Model is Sony RX10 II
  • Updated by Sony RX10 IV
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
  • Released February 2009
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Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Sony RX10 III versus Sony S980, former being a Large Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the RX10 III (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the RX10 III (1") and S980 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The RX10 III was revealed 7 years later than the S980 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the RX10 III grades versus the S980 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Sony S980

 RX10 III S980 
ReleasedMarch 2016February 2009More recent by 87 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony RX10 III

 S980 RX10 III 

Common features in the Sony RX10 III and Sony S980

 RX10 III S980 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX10 III features physical measurements of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") accompanied by a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has dimensions 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 RX10 III versus Sony S980 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the RX10 III versus the S980.

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the RX10 III and S980 is 53 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the RX10 III and S980.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The RX10 III having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony RX10 III will offer you greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher RX10 III will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX10 III as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX10 III as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
64
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
heavier than competition in class (1,051 grams)
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX10 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
70
amazing zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery life (420 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony RX10 III
Travel photography with Sony S980
55
good battery life (420 CIPA)
weather proof
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (1,051g)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX10 III Landscape photography features
Sony S980 Landscape photography features
64
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
good battery life (420 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
missing Time Lapse recording
27
you can focus manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony RX10 III
Vlogging with Sony S980
28
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external mic support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (1,051g)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Sony RX10 III vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX10 III and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Large Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2016-03-29 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 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 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
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 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-600mm (25.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.4-4.0 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 1,229 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 14.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.80 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 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 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1051g (2.32 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 472 not tested
Other
Battery life 420 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $1,398 $300