Sony RX100 VII vs Sony S980

Following is a complete review of the Sony RX100 VII versus Sony S980, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the RX100 VII (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the RX100 VII (1") and S980 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The RX100 VII was unveiled 10 years after the S980 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX100 VII being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the RX100 VII grades against the S980 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The full galleries are provided at Sony RX100 VII Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX100 VII comes with external dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") along with a weight of 302 grams (0.67 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).

Contrast the Sony RX100 VII versus Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the RX100 VII compared to the S980.

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

Normally, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The image below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 VII and S980.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The RX100 VII with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX100 VII will deliver more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent RX100 VII should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.