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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980

Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
75
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VI
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 301g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Released June 2018
  • Old Model is Sony RX100 V
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 VII
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the RX100 VI (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the RX100 VI (1") and S980 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The RX100 VI was unveiled 9 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX100 VI being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the RX100 VI matches up versus the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VI over the Sony S980

 RX100 VI S980 
RevealedJune 2018February 2009Fresher by 114 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony RX100 VI

 S980 RX100 VI 

Common features in the Sony RX100 VI and Sony S980

 RX100 VI S980 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony RX100 VI provides outer dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") and a weight of 301 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the RX100 VI compared to the S980.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the RX100 VI and S980 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The photograph here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the RX100 VI and S980.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RX100 VI using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony RX100 VI will produce extra detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer RX100 VI will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Portrait photography info
Sony S980 Portrait photography info
66
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
27
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VI as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition (301g)
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony RX100 VI
Sports photography with Sony S980
70
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
77
lighter than competition (301g)
supports bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
65
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
27
focusing manually
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VI as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
77
pretty wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (301 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have external microphone jack
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VI and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VISony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2018-06-05 2009-02-17
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 315 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-200mm (8.3x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 8cm 10cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,229k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 24.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.90 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 301 grams (0.66 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $1,198 $300