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Sony S980 vs Sony WX9

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 front
Portability
99
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 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
  • Revealed February 2009
Sony WX9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • n/ag - 95 x 56 x 20mm
  • Released January 2011
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Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Sony S980 and Sony WX9, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the S980 (12MP) and WX9 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S980 was launched 22 months earlier than the WX9 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony S980 being a Compact camera and the Sony WX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the S980 matches up vs the WX9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony WX9

 S980 WX9 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX9 over the Sony S980

 WX9 S980 
ReleasedJanuary 2011February 2009Newer by 22 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony S980 and Sony WX9

 S980 WX9 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Sony S980 offers outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony WX9 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

See the Sony S980 and Sony WX9 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the S980 compared to the WX9.

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S980 and WX9 is 94 and 99 respectively.

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 top view buttons comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S980 and WX9.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony WX9 to produce greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged S980 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 sensor size comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S980 Portrait photography info
Sony WX9 Portrait photography info
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
30
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony S980 Street photography advice
Sony WX9 Street photography advice
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
59
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony S980 Sports photography details
Sony WX9 Sports photography details
17
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony S980
Travel photography with Sony WX9
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony S980
Landscape photography with Sony WX9
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
43
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX9 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
33
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Sony S980 vs Sony WX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S980 and Sony WX9
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-02-17 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 pounds) -
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 95 x 56 x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
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 1 1
Cost at release $300 $188