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Sony S980 vs Sony A37

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 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
  • Launched February 2009
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A35
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Sony S980 vs Sony A37 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Sony S980 and Sony A37, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both built by Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the S980 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the S980 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The S980 was launched 4 years prior to the A37 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony S980 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the S980 matches up versus the A37 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A37

 S980 A37 
Display sizing2.7"2.6"Larger display (+0.1")

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Sony S980

 A37 S980 
IntroducedMay 2012February 2009Fresher by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Sony S980 and Sony A37

 S980 A37 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Sony S980 provides exterior dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony A37 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Look at the Sony S980 and Sony A37 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the S980 versus the A37.

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the S980 and A37 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading technical specs. The graphic here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the S980 and A37.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The S980 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A37 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The older S980 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S980 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S980 Portrait photography features
Sony A37 Portrait photography features
27
focusing manually
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony S980 Street photography details
Sony A37 Street photography details
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony S980 Sports photography highlights
Sony A37 Sports photography highlights
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
low battery life (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony S980 Travel photography features
Sony A37 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
54
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low battery life (500 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A37 as a Landscape photography camera
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
64
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.6")
low battery life (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A37 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Sony S980 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S980 and Sony A37
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 Sony SLT-A37
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-17 2012-05-16
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.6 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167g (0.37 lbs) 506g (1.12 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $300 $522