Cyber-shot DSC-S980

Released 2009

A 12.1-megapixel rechargeable compact with a 33–132 mm-equivalent lens, 2.7-inch screen and electronic shake reduction.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 12.1
Lens: 33–132 mm equivalent
Video: 320 × 240 at 30 fps
Body weight: 135 g

What reviewers say

Both tests liked the accessible controls, particularly the mode dial, but found image quality weak. Macworld praised battery endurance and criticised uneven flash lighting; ColorFoto found noise and poor fine detail even at low sensitivity, slow autofocus and slow startup. ColorFoto also found some buttons too small.

From macworld.com and connect-living.de

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 12.1 MP
Largest image: 4000 × 3000
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–3200
Sensor detail: Optical 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.1 million effective / 12.4 million total pixels. Optical format is not a physical dimension. Exact shared instruction manual labels S980 separately from 10.1 MP S950
Image formats: JPEG/Exif 2.21; maximum 4000×3000, with 3:2 4000×2672 and 16:9 4000×2248/1920×1080 settings. No RAW recording

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 33–132 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.5–5.6
Optical zoom: 4×
Stabilisation: Electronic only
Lens detail: Sony 4× zoom, physical 5.8–23.2 mm F2.5–5.6; 35 mm equivalent 33–132 mm. Closest focus approximately 5 cm wide / 50 cm telephoto
Autofocus: Single autofocus; nine-area multi AF, centre AF or five distance presets: 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity, not continuously adjustable manual focus. Face detection up to eight faces; no AF illuminator
Shutter: Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Program auto 1–1/2000 second in exact Asia-Pacific maker table
Burst detail: Up to 100 images while shutter held; approximately 1-second recording interval. Focus, exposure and white balance fixed to first frame, flash off, ISO limited to Auto or 100–400; self-timer burst up to five frames. No unrestricted sustained rate inferred
Stabilisation detail: Electronic SteadyShot only; no optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Exact handbook excludes flash use and Easy Shooting and notes additional processing time
Flash: Auto ISO range approximately 0.5–3.5 m wide / 0.5–1.5 m telephoto. Auto, forced flash, slow sync and off; red-eye reduction
Exposure controls: Auto, Easy Shooting, Program auto, High Sensitivity and six scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Snow. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering. ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200

Video

Highest video resolution: 320 × 240 at 30 fps
Video detail: AVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at 30 fps with mono sound. Movie size fixed to 320×240 in instruction manual; conflicting European archive 640×480 template excluded. Optical zoom cannot change during movie recording

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 2.7″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 2.7-inch TFT, 230,400 dots; dots are not image pixels. No touchscreen or tilting; histogram display
Viewfinder detail: No separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD

Connections and design

Bluetooth: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 310 photographs
Body weight: 135 g
Release detail: Maker European February 17 2009 release planned availability from late February. Imaging Resource exact-model database records Date Available March 15 2009, supporting conservative year 2009; precise first-sale day/region not independently corroborated. No replacement inferred: higher-resolution alternative does not establish official successor
Recording media: Approximately 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo (no enhanced PRO-HG transfer speed). No card supplied
Ports: Combined USB/A/V OUT terminal with Hi-Speed USB 2.0, mono audio and NTSC/PAL composite video. Exact manual overrides European A/V No template entry. PictBridge compatible; no external microphone input
Battery life detail: Supplied NP-BK1 rechargeable lithium-ion pack: approximately 310 shots / 155 minutes CIPA at 25°C. Separate viewing claim 4800 images / 240 minutes is not shooting endurance
Charging: External BC-CSK or BC-CSKA charger supplied, region-dependent; optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separate. USB charging not listed
Dimensions: 93.1×55.7×23.8 mm width×height×depth excluding protrusions in exact instruction manual and European maker archive. Imaging Resource overview 25.9 mm thickness not used
Weight detail: 135 g body only in European maker archive; approximately 157 g with NP-BK1 battery pack and strap, etc. in instruction manual. Different reviewer weights are not substituted
In the box: NP-BK1 battery pack, BC-CSK/BC-CSKA charger, dedicated USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; Memory Stick Duo separate

Pros and cons

Pros

4× optical zoom
Face detection
310-shot CIPA battery claim

Cons

No optical stabilisation or viewfinder
No RAW or manual exposure
Video limited to 320×240

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S930	Compact	1/2.3-type	10.1	36–108 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	118 g	2009
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S950	Compact	1/2.3-type	10.1	33–132 mm equivalent	320 × 240 at 30 fps	135 g	2009
SonyCyber-shot DSC-W290	Compact	1/2.3-type	12.1	28–140 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	145 g	2009

Sources

Photo: Pixinfo

Silver DSC-S980 from the connector side with lens extended: PXLMAG
Silver DSC-S980 strap-eyelet side: PXLMAG
Silver DSC-S980 straight front with lens extended: PXLMAG
Silver DSC-S980 from above and the strap side with lens extended: PXLMAG
Silver DSC-S980 rear controls and blank screen: PXLMAG
Silver DSC-S980 top, showing exact model label and shutter button: PXLMAG
Black DSC-S980 front with lens extended: Macworld
Black DSC-S980 rear controls and blank screen: Macworld

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