Canon SD980 IS

- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
- 150g - 100 x 53 x 23mm
- Released August 2009
- Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
95 Imaging
35 Features
28 Overall
32
Canon SD980 IS overview
Canon SD980 IS is Canon's Small Sensor Compact camera first launched on August of 2009. It has a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is referred to as "Digital IXUS 200 IS" in other countries.
The SD980 IS stands at #151 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all around #1058 out of 1459 for cameras in our database. Remember to use our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your personal factors.

Below is a diagram of specific criteria used in the scoring system.
Canon SD980 IS family
The Canon SD980 IS is part of a family of cameras. You can see the full range underneath.





F2.8-5.912MP1/2.3"2009

Canon SD980 IS Gallery
You can see the SD980 IS from several angles in the gallery underneath.
Canon SD980 IS Pros and Cons
Below is a shortlist of upsides and downsides of the Canon SD980 IS based on criterias which are often viewed as necessary in a camera.

Canon SD980 IS Sensor info
The Canon SD980 IS is run by the Digic 4 chip. The dimension of the sensor in the Canon SD980 IS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter may cause cropping.

The CCD sensor boasts 12MP and has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600. Sadly, RAW photos are not supported so you have less room to maneuver in post.
The image underneath shows the SD980 IS's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The SD980 IS sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.


To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Canon SD980 IS dimensions
Canon SD980 IS weighs about 0.33 lb (150 grams / 5.29 oz) and the over all size of the camera is 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Canon SD980 IS is lighter compared with its competitors.

Underneath is a image of the Canon SD980 IS besides a soft drink so you can have a feel for its scale.

The top view under will provide the button design on the SD980 IS.

Canon SD980 IS Lens info
The SD980 IS includes a built-in lens and a focal range of 24-120mm making it a 5.0 x zoom which won't be outstanding however it is going to be useful in a few conditions.
At the widest 24mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.8 which will be really slow and not great in low light circumstances and you may struggle to capture good bokeh. You would also have to up the ISO setting resulting in noisy files. On the tele end, 120mm comes to f5.9 making it really sluggish and you will need to go with slow shutter speeds.

Canon SD980 IS Connectivity
The SD980 IS has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily transfer photos and at times adjust settings without connecting physically to the camera.
Some applications even enable a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external display. Nearly all cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB socket.

Canon SD980 IS Video info
The maximum video resolution in the Canon SD980 IS is 1280 x 720 and it can capture in H.264 format. 720p is low by today's requirements. You should really go for a minimum 1080p resolution for decent video. The camera doesn't feature a mic and headphone socket so you have no control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to get another model in case you need good audio in your video clips.

Canon SD980 IS Weather Sealing
There is no weather proofing for the Canon SD980 IS so you need to be cautious in wet or dusty situations.
Canon SD980 IS Display and Viewfinder
The Canon SD980 IS has a 3 inch fixed display boasting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.
Moreover the display is touch friendly so you will be able to shift focus points and adjust settings by using your fingers.


The View Finder details regarding Canon SD980 IS are the following:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders are pretty useful for sunny outdoor situations which may make the camera display washed out and hard to view.
Canon SD980 IS Shutter info
Canon SD980 IS is able to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/3000 sec.

Canon SD980 IS Flash and Hot shoe info
Canon SD980 IS includes only inbuilt flash lacking external flash ability.
Canon SD980 IS Autofocusing info
Canon SD980 IS includes just Contrast Detect Auto Focus and does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & precise compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing.
The AF system has 9 focus points to choose from. Canon SD980 IS doesn't have manual focus. Manual focus is useful for low light occasions or you need to have more accurate focusing control.

Canon SD980 IS Battery life
The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the highest possible (470) battery life for this kind of cameras.
Following is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:

Canon SD980 IS for varying types of photography
The following diagram presents a overview of the Canon SD980 IS for varying types of photography. To read more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.
Canon SD980 IS as a Portrait photography camera
The Canon SD980 IS receives a points total of 21 which is subpar, meaning that it is not acceptable to use for portraits. Photographing portrait photos leans heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW photos and capability to utilize external lighting.

Canon SD980 IS as a Street photography camera
Having a average rating of 57, the Canon SD980 IS is reasonably suitable to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography info
A subpar sports photography rating of 25 suggests the Canon SD980 IS is not acceptable for taking pictures of sports. A camera should have very good tracking plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography factors
Size is extremely important in picking a camera for travel. Overall, the Canon SD980 IS gets a modest 58 for a travelling camera which makes it reasonably suitable for your vacations.

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
For those who are planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most significant factor will no doubt be image quality. The Canon SD980 IS at it's subpar score of 38 for a landscape camera is not acceptable amongst its competitors.

Vlogging with Canon SD980 IS
A vlogging camera ought to come with a articulating display, microphone port and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Canon SD980 IS is not acceptable for vlogging as it comes to a subpar score of 31.

Canon SD980 IS Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to the SD980 IS, here is a range of the top rated cameras which fall under the class of Small Sensor Compact.
The diagram here will give you a bird's eye view of the SD980 IS versus it's top rated competitors listed earlier.
Here are a handful of other cameras you might take a look at as alternative options. To check out a extensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.
