Sony S980 vs Sony A33

Here is a in-depth review of the Sony S980 and Sony A33, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the S980 (12MP) and the A33 (14MP) is relatively similar but the S980 (1/2.3") and A33 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The S980 was released 18 months before the A33 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony S980 being a Compact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the S980 grades versus the A33 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 and Sony SLT-A33. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony S980 Gallery and Sony A33 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony S980 has got external dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony A33 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Sony S980 and Sony A33 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the S980 vs the A33.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the S980 and A33 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Oftentimes, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The graphic here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the S980 and A33.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The S980 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A33 will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older S980 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.