Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980

    41
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    Highlights

    • 12.1 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 3,200 Native ISO
    • 9 Focus Points
    • 2.70" 230k dot Fixed Screen
    • 1.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 was announced in 2009 and is a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) Standard Compact camera with 12.1 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 3,200. The camera has a Fixed 2.70" screen with 230k dot resolution.

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 can capture video up to 1280 x 720 resolution.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Screen
    4. Sensor
    5. Photography Features
    6. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    7. Other Features
    8. Physical Parameters
    9. For Different Types of Photography
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Here is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Sony S2100
    Compare
    		January
    2010    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 3,200 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Sony S2000
    Compare
    		January
    2010    		 10 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 3,200 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Sony S950
    Compare
    		February
    2009    		 10 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 3,200 Fixed 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Sony S980 February
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 3,200 Fixed 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Sony S930
    Compare
    		January
    2009    		 10 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 3,200 Fixed 2.40"
    112k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 vs Cyber-shot DSC-S2000 vs Cyber-shot DSC-S950 vs Cyber-shot DSC-S980 vs Cyber-shot DSC-S930.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   Light - 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz)
    •   Internal Storage

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 2.70"

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 has a 2.70" Fixed screen with 230k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.

    Sensor

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 features a 12.1 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 3,200.

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 4000 x 3000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 4000 x 2672, 4000 x 2248, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480 with 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    No Image Stabilization

    The camera does not have an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980.

    Sony S2000
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    1/2.3-inch

    10 MP

    Sony S930
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    1/2.3-inch

    10 MP

    Sony S950
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    10 MP

    Sony S2100
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Fujifilm X-E1
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    16.3 MP

    Nikon Z f
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.4 MP

    Canon R100
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.1 MP

    Sony a7 III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.2 MP

    Leica M Typ 240
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24 MP

    Olympus SZ-11
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    14 MP

    Sony a6400
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon 7D II
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Battery

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 comes with NP-BK1 battery pack.


    Internal Storage and External Storage Slots

    The camera has 12 MB internal storage and a single Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980's shutter speed can go up to 1/1600 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 1.0 fps.


    Flash

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 3.50 m.

    Physical Parameters

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 has dimensions of 93 x 56 x 24 mm (3.66 x 2.2 x 0.94"). It weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    93 mm (3.66")

    56 mm (2.2")

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    56 mm (2.2")

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    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 dimensions

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    POOR
    47

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 gets a score of 47 and is POOR choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    BAD
    37

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 gets a score of 37 and is BAD choice for Sports photography.

    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps

    Wildlife Photography

    POOR
    49

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 gets a score of 49 and is POOR choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Portrait Photography

    POOR
    45

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 gets a score of 45 and is POOR choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 2.70"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    80

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 gets a score of 80 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    86

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 gets a score of 86 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz)

    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 Evaluation

    We evaluate Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 and give score of 41 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    41

    Sensor

    POOR
    46

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 46 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    BAD
    26

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 26 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    BAD
    7

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 7 for Video parameters.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    58

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 58 for Focusing parameters.

    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    50

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 50 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 2.70"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    BAD
    38

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 38 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    49

    We give Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 a score of 49 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz)
    •   Internal Storage


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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