Sony RX100 III vs Sony S980

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Sony RX100 III vs Sony S980, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the RX100 III (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the RX100 III (1") and S980 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The RX100 III was announced 5 years later than the S980 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the RX100 III matches up versus the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony RX100 III Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony RX100 III has got exterior measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Sony RX100 III vs Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the RX100 III versus the S980.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the RX100 III and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The visual here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the RX100 III and S980.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The RX100 III using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 III will offer more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern RX100 III provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.