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Canon SD980 IS

 
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
  • 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
Portability
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 #150 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all around #1059 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. Remember to use our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your personal factors.

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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.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-SX740-HS front thumbnailCanon SX740 HS
SD980 IS vs SX740 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
21MP1/2.3"2018
Canon-PowerShot-SX730-HS front thumbnailCanon SX730 HS
SD980 IS vs SX730 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2017
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Canon-PowerShot-SX620-HS front thumbnailCanon SX620 HS
SD980 IS vs SX620 HS
25-625mm
F3.2-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX720-HS front thumbnailCanon SX720 HS
SD980 IS vs SX720 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX410-IS front thumbnailCanon SX410 IS
SD980 IS vs SX410 IS
24-960mm
F3.5-5.6
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX710-HS front thumbnailCanon SX710 HS
SD980 IS vs SX710 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
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Canon-PowerShot-SX610-HS front thumbnailCanon SX610 HS
SD980 IS vs SX610 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX520-HS front thumbnailCanon SX520 HS
SD980 IS vs SX520 HS
24-1008mm
F3.4-6.0
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX400-IS front thumbnailCanon SX400 IS
SD980 IS vs SX400 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX700-HS front thumbnailCanon SX700 HS
SD980 IS vs SX700 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX600-HS front thumbnailCanon SX600 HS
SD980 IS vs SX600 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Canon-PowerShot-SX510-HS front thumbnailCanon SX510 HS
SD980 IS vs SX510 HS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX170-IS front thumbnailCanon SX170 IS
SD980 IS vs SX170 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX160-IS front thumbnailCanon SX160 IS
SD980 IS vs SX160 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX270-HS front thumbnailCanon SX270 HS
SD980 IS vs SX270 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX280-HS front thumbnailCanon SX280 HS
SD980 IS vs SX280 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX500-IS front thumbnailCanon SX500 IS
SD980 IS vs SX500 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX260-HS front thumbnailCanon SX260 HS
SD980 IS vs SX260 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX150-IS front thumbnailCanon SX150 IS
SD980 IS vs SX150 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2012
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Canon-PowerShot-SX240-HS front thumbnailCanon SX240 HS
SD980 IS vs SX240 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX230-HS front thumbnailCanon SX230 HS
SD980 IS vs SX230 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SD4500-IS front thumbnailCanon SD4500 IS
SD980 IS vs SD4500 IS
36-360mm
F3.4-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-SX220-HS front thumbnailCanon SX220 HS
SD980 IS vs SX220 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SX130-IS front thumbnailCanon SX130 IS
SD980 IS vs SX130 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD4000-IS front thumbnailCanon SD4000 IS
SD980 IS vs SD4000 IS
28-105mm
F2.0-5.3
10MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX210-IS front thumbnailCanon SX210 IS
SD980 IS vs SX210 IS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD3500-IS front thumbnailCanon SD3500 IS
SD980 IS vs SD3500 IS
24-120mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD1300-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1300 IS
SD980 IS vs SD1300 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD980-IS front thumbnailCanon SD980 IS24-120mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Canon-PowerShot-SX200-IS front thumbnailCanon SX200 IS
SD980 IS vs SX200 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.3
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD970-IS front thumbnailCanon SD970 IS
SD980 IS vs SD970 IS
37-185mm
F3.2-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD960-IS front thumbnailCanon SD960 IS
SD980 IS vs SD960 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD1200-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1200 IS
SD980 IS vs SD1200 IS
35-105mm
F2.8-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009

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.

built-in touchscreen
decently wide (24mm)
great min ISO (80)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Optical)
in built zoom lens (24-120mm 5.0 x zoom)
includes HDMI out
screen size is good (3 inches)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
lack of headphone support
lack of Timelapse recording
lacks phase detect AF
lacks RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.9)
no aperture priority mode
no external flash support
no manual focus
no moving screen
no shutter priority mode
pixelated screen (230 thousand dots)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
Photography Glossary

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.

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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.

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS sensor size Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

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

Camera sensor aspect ratios

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.

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

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS dimensions scale

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

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS topview buttons dials

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS screen and viewfinder Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

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.

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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.

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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.

Photography Glossary
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

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.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files

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.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus

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.

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has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)

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.

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really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode

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.

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fairly wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack

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.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Also called as
Digital IXUS 200 IS
Category
Small Sensor Compact
Released
2009-08-19
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Powered by
Digic 4
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW files
Highest native ISO
1600
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture
f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
3 inches
Resolution of display
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/3000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
6.50 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
150 gr (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions
100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9")
Other
Battery model
NB-6L
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Card slots
Single