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Sony S980 vs Sony W510

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Key Specs

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
Sony W510
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 54 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony S980 versus Sony W510, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact and both are offered by Sony. The sensor resolution of the S980 (12MP) and the W510 (12MP) is relatively close and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S980 was manufactured 22 months earlier than the W510 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony S980 being a Compact camera and the Sony W510 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the S980 matches up against the W510 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony W510

 S980 W510 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony W510 over the Sony S980

 W510 S980 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2009Fresher by 22 months

Common features in the Sony S980 and Sony W510

 S980 W510 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony S980 enjoys outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony W510 has measurements of 96mm x 54mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8") and a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Sony S980 versus Sony W510 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the S980 and the W510.

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the S980 and W510 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 top view buttons comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the S980 and W510.

Clearly, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of photos however you might want to factor the release date of the cameras into account. The older S980 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 sensor size comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S980 Portrait photography factors
Sony W510 Portrait photography factors
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
21
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony S980
Street photography with Sony W510
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
57
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony S980 Sports photography factors
Sony W510 Sports photography factors
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony S980
Travel photography with Sony W510
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
58
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony S980 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W510 Landscape photography highlights
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse mode
32
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S980 Vlogging information
Sony W510 Vlogging information
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
29
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Sony S980 vs Sony W510 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S980 and Sony W510
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-02-17 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 10cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 2s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 2.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167g (0.37 lb) 119g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 96 x 54 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $300 $99