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Sony S980 vs Sony WX30

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Announced February 2009
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
Photography Glossary

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Sony S980 versus Sony WX30, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and they are both created by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the S980 (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S980 was brought out 3 years earlier than the WX30 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the S980 scores against the WX30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony WX30

 S980 WX30 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony S980

 WX30 S980 
LaunchedJuly 2011February 2009Fresher by 29 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony S980 and Sony WX30

 S980 WX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Sony S980 comes with physical 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) while the Sony WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony S980 versus Sony WX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the S980 versus the WX30.

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the S980 and WX30 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through specs. The photograph below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S980 and WX30.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony WX30 to result in extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older S980 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony S980
Portrait photography with Sony WX30
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
30
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony S980
Street photography with Sony WX30
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony S980 Sports photography info
Sony WX30 Sports photography info
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competition in class (117g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony S980 Landscape photography info
Sony WX30 Landscape photography info
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
43
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S980 Vlogging highlights
Sony WX30 Vlogging highlights
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
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Sony S980 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S980 and Sony WX30
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-02-17 2011-07-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 2 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 gr (0.37 pounds) 117 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life - 250 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
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
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $300 $259