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Kodak Z980

 
Kodak EasyShare Z980 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 445g - 124 x 91 x 105mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
68
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Kodak Z980 overview

Kodak Z980 is Kodak's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera initially released on January of 2009. It houses a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000.

The Z980 is ranked #202 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all round #894 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to test our Smart camera filter to get camera rankings based on your custom requirements.

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Below is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Kodak Z980 history

The Kodak Z980 is part of a family of products. You can view the complete range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Kodak-EasyShare-Z5120 front thumbnailKodak Z5120
Z980 vs Z5120
26-676mm
F2.8-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2012
Kodak-EasyShare-Z990 front thumbnailKodak Z990
Z980 vs Z990
28-840mm
F2.8-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2011
Photography Glossary
Kodak-EasyShare-Z981 front thumbnailKodak Z981
Z980 vs Z981
26-676mm
F2.8-5.0
14MP1/2.3"2010
Kodak-EasyShare-Z950 front thumbnailKodak Z950
Z980 vs Z950
35-350mm
F3.5-4.8
12MP1/2.3"2010
Kodak-EasyShare-Z915 front thumbnailKodak Z915
Z980 vs Z915
35-350mm
F3.5-4.8
10MP1/2.3"2009
Kodak-EasyShare-Z980 front thumbnailKodak Z98026-624mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Kodak Z980 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of positives and negatives of the Kodak Z980 based on aspects which are generally viewed as important in a digital camera.

above average min ISO (64)
comes with HDMI socket
flash built-in
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
long zoom (624mm)
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
reasonably wide (26mm)
saves RAW files
you can focus manually
doesn't have headphone socket
doesn't have microphone socket
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution screen (201 thousand dots)
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.0)
no articulating screen
no phase detect auto focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Kodak Z980 Sensor info

The sensor dimension in the Kodak Z980 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 12 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 64 - 6400. RAW files are saved therefore you have wider margin for error.

The graphic underneath shows the Z980's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The Z980 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is showcased in green.

Kodak EasyShare Z980 sensor size Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

To get an idea of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Kodak Z980 dimensions

Kodak Z980 has a weight of 0.98 lb (445 gr / 15.70 ounces) and features exterior size of 124mm x 91mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 4.1"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr so the Kodak Z980 is heavier in comparison with other rivals.

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Underneath is a picture of the Kodak Z980 alongside a soda to help you have a feel for its scale.

Kodak EasyShare Z980 dimensions scale

The top view under will show you the button design on the Z980.

Kodak EasyShare Z980 topview buttons dials

Kodak Z980 Lens info

The Z980 features a fixed lens and it has a focal range of 26-624mm giving it a 24.0 x zoom which is great and would make it easier to zoom all the way in.

At the widest 26mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.8 making it really slow and not ideal in low light situations and you may find it hard to capture good bokeh. You would also have to increase the ISO setting which results in noisy photos. At the tele end, 624mm is excellent zoom and comes to f5.0 making it really sluggish and you may need to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Kodak Z980 Connectivity

The Z980 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to send files and in some cases change camera settings without connecting physically to the camera.

Many applications even stream a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external display. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB port.

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Kodak Z980 Video info

The maximum video resolution in the Kodak Z980 is 1280 x 720 and it can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is low by today's standards. You really should go for at least 1080p resolution for decent video. The camera doesn't feature a mic and headphone jack which means that you get little control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to take a look at another model if you want good audio in your videos.

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Kodak Z980 Weather Sealing

Kodak Z980 doesn't include weather proofing so wet conditions can easily ruin the camera.

Kodak Z980 Screen and Viewfinder

The Kodak Z980 is equipped with a 3 inch fixed display supporting a resolution of 201 thousand dots.

Sadly the display isn't a touch screen.

Kodak EasyShare Z980 screen and viewfinder Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The View Finder specs regarding Kodak Z980 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic

In those sunny outdoor situations which make the camera screens washed out and hard to view, viewfinders can be pretty valuable.

Kodak Z980 Shutter info

Kodak Z980 has the ability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Kodak Z980 Flash and Hot shoe info

Kodak Z980 includes both built in flash plus external flash ability.

Kodak Z980 Autofocus info

Kodak Z980 includes just Contrast Detect Auto Focus and does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker & exact in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing.

It supports 25 focus points to select from. Kodak Z980 includes manual focus if needed for low light situations or you want to have more precise focus control.

Photography Glossary

Kodak Z980 Battery life

The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the highest possible (600) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Following is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the strongest battery life:

Kodak Z980 for specific styles of photography

The following graph presents a overview of the Kodak Z980 for specific styles of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Portrait photography with Kodak Z980

The Kodak Z980 gets a points tally of 40 which is dreadful, and means the camera is not really appropriate to use for portraits. Shooting portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor size, RAW support together with the ability to utilize external lighting.

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has manual focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")

Kodak Z980 Street photography features

Coming in at a decent rating of 54, the Kodak Z980 is somewhat suited for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")

Kodak Z980 Sports photography information

A dreadful sports photography points tally of 33 indicates the Kodak Z980 is not really appropriate for shooting sports. A camera must have very good focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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amazing zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus

Kodak Z980 Travel photography info

Size is really critical when getting a camera for travel. Overall, the Kodak Z980 gets a decent 51 as a travel camera which is somewhat acceptable for your vacations.

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flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
very long reach (624mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)

Kodak Z980 Landscape photography information

When you're looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most vital factor is going to be image quality. The Kodak Z980 with it's dreadful score of 45 as a landscape camera is not really appropriate amongst it's competitors.

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has manual focus
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse recording

Vlogging with Kodak Z980

A camera for vlogging really should posses a articulating display, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Considering all things, the Kodak Z980 is not really appropriate for vlogging as it delivers a dreadful score of 23.

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quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support

Kodak Z980 Alternatives

If you are searching for alternatives to the Z980, below is a range of the highest placed cameras that fall within the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The graph down below gives you a summary of the Z980 versus it's top ranking competitors mentioned earlier.

Following are additional cameras you may consider as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Kodak
Model
Kodak EasyShare Z980
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2009-01-05
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW photos
Max native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
25
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
26-624mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture
f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range
10cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inch
Screen resolution
201 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
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
16 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
6.30 m
Flash modes
Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
445 grams (0.98 lbs)
Physical dimensions
124 x 91 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 4.1")
Other
Battery model
4 x AA
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots
One
Price at launch
$249