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Sony RX1R vs Sony S980

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony RX1R II
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Sony RX1R and Sony S980, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the RX1R (24MP) and S980 (12MP) and the RX1R (Full frame) and S980 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The RX1R was manufactured 4 years later than the S980 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the RX1R grades against the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony S980

 RX1R S980 
IntroducedJune 2013February 2009Fresher by 53 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony RX1R

 S980 RX1R 

Common features in the Sony RX1R and Sony S980

 RX1R S980 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX1R has external measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony RX1R and Sony S980 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the RX1R and the S980.

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RX1R and S980 is 79 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the RX1R and S980.

As you can tell, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RX1R due to its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony RX1R will resolve more detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern RX1R is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1R Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
82
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
good MP (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
27
you can focus manually
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1R as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
heavier than average (482 grams)
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX1R Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
53
good MP (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
17
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1R Travel photography details
Sony S980 Travel photography details
62
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
heavier than average (482g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony RX1R
Landscape photography with Sony S980
66
manual focus
great max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good MP (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
27
you can focus manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1R Vlogging features
Sony S980 Vlogging features
34
great max aperture (f2.0)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
heavier than average (482g)
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
Photography Glossary

Sony RX1R vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1R and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1RSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-26 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 23.9mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 855.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35mm (1x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 1,229k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Xtra FineTFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic and Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/4000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 482g (1.06 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
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 score 91 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 2537 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $2,798 $300