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Sony S980 vs Sony W320

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320 front
Portability
97
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced February 2009
Sony W320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 117g - 93 x 52 x 17mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Sony S980 and Sony W320, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both designed by Sony. The image resolution of the S980 (12MP) and the W320 (14MP) is pretty close and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S980 was introduced 10 months before the W320 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony S980 being a Compact camera and the Sony W320 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the S980 scores versus the W320 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony W320

 S980 W320 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony W320 over the Sony S980

 W320 S980 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010February 2009Fresher by 10 months

Common features in the Sony S980 and Sony W320

 S980 W320 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony S980 has exterior measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony W320 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Sony S980 and Sony W320 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the S980 vs the W320.

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S980 and W320 is 94 and 97 respectively.

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 top view buttons comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the S980 and W320.

Clearly, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony W320 to provide you with greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older S980 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 sensor size comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S980 Portrait photography info
Sony W320 Portrait photography info
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
28
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony S980 Street photography details
Sony W320 Street photography details
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
48
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony S980
Sports photography with Sony W320
17
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
26
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony S980 Travel photography info
Sony W320 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
66
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony S980
Landscape photography with Sony W320
27
focusing manually
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
33
fairly wide (26mm)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W320 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
26
fairly wide (26mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Sony S980 vs Sony W320 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S980 and Sony W320
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-02-17 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 26-105mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range 10cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 167 grams (0.37 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 93 x 52 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 model - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $269