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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-S980SonyCyber-shot DSC-W290
Overview
Released20092009
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution12.1 MP12.1 MP
Largest image4000 × 30004000 × 3000
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range100–320080–3200
Sensor detailOptical 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 S9501/2.3-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.1 million effective and 12.4 million total photosites; optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG/Exif 2.21; maximum 4000×3000, with 3:2 4000×2672 and 16:9 4000×2248/1920×1080 settings. No RAW recordingJPEG, maximum 4000 × 3000 pixels; 4000 × 2672 in 3:2 or 4000 × 2248/1920 × 1080 in 16:9
ISO detail–Auto or ISO 80–3200
Image processor–BIONZ with standard and Plus D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; photographs recorded as JPEG rather than RAW
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens33–132 mm equivalent28–140 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.5–5.6f/3.3–5.2
Optical zoom4×5×
StabilisationElectronic onlyOptical lens stabilisation
Lens detailSony 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 telephotoCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 5–25 mm, equivalent to 28–140 mm for photographs; movie field of view equivalent to 31–155 mm in 16:9 or 37–185 mm in 4:3. Conversion lenses/46 mm filters require an optional adapter
AutofocusSingle 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 illuminatorNine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator; semi-manual presets 0.5/1/3/7 m or infinity. Auto/macro focus approximately 10 cm wide or 50 cm telephoto. Face detection up to eight people with child/adult priority, selected-face memory, motion detection and Smile Shutter
ShutterAuto 1/8–1/2000 second; Program auto 1–1/2000 second in exact Asia-Pacific maker tableSony Germany specifies automatic shutter approximately 2–1/1600 second; preliminary Hong Kong sheet lists Auto 1/4–1/1600 and Program 1–1/1600
Burst detailUp 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 inferredMaker specifies up to 100 photographs. Sony Germany gives approximately 0.57-second burst intervals, while the English manual specifies approximately 1.8 seconds; What Digital Camera measured nearly 2 fps. Main frame rate omitted because published maker intervals conflict
Stabilisation detailElectronic SteadyShot only; no optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Exact handbook excludes flash use and Easy Shooting and notes additional processing timeOptical SteadyShot
FlashAuto ISO range approximately 0.5–3.5 m wide / 0.5–1.5 m telephoto. Auto, forced flash, slow sync and off; red-eye reductionBuilt-in flash with Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and red-eye reduction; final manual ISO Auto range approximately 0.2–3 m wide or 0.5–1.9 m telephoto
Exposure controlsAuto, 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 3200Intelligent Auto, Easy, Program and scene selections; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps and exposure bracketing. iSCN recognises eight scene types and Advanced mode can capture two alternative exposures
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240 at 30 fps1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detailAVI 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 recordingMPEG-4 Visual 1280 × 720 Fine 9 Mbps or Standard 6 Mbps, or 640 × 480 VGA 3 Mbps; Sony US launch specifies 30 fps. Manual limits continuous movies to approximately 29 minutes; 720p requires Memory Stick PRO Duo. Optical zoom unavailable during recording (What Digital Camera)
Audio–Built-in mono microphone and speaker; multi-connector supports stereo audio output
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size2.7″3″
Screen dots230,400230,400
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 2.7-inch TFT, 230,400 dots; dots are not image pixels. No touchscreen or tilting; histogram displayFixed 3.0-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots; no optical or electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder detailNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD–
Connections and design
BluetoothNoNo
Battery life (maker's claim)310 photographs300 photographs
Body weight135 g145 g
Release detailMaker 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 successorReleased in 2009. Sony Hong Kong scheduled availability for the end of March 2009; Sony US scheduled April purchase availability with March pre-orders. These announcements establish planned months rather than confirming the actual first retail month
Recording mediaApproximately 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo (no enhanced PRO-HG transfer speed). No card suppliedApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo. No SD card slot
PortsCombined 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 inputType2b multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, AV and DC input; HD component output needs optional adapter cable, rather than an HDMI socket
Battery life detailSupplied 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 enduranceSupplied NP-BG1, typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh and minimum 3.3 Wh/910 mAh; optional NP-FG1 supported. Exact W290 manual CIPA claim approximately 300 photographs/150 minutes with supplied fully charged battery
ChargingExternal BC-CSK or BC-CSKA charger supplied, region-dependent; optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separate. USB charging not listedExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger, approximately 330 minutes full or 270 minutes normal charge at 25°C; optional AC-LS5K adapter
Dimensions93.1×55.7×23.8 mm width×height×depth excluding protrusions in exact instruction manual and European maker archive. Imaging Resource overview 25.9 mm thickness not used97.6 × 57.4 × 22.6 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions, in final manual
Weight detail135 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 substituted145 g body-only in Sony Germany specifications; approximately 174 g including NP-BG1 and Memory Stick Duo in the exact W290 manual entry
Materials–Metal body
Colours–Silver, black, blue or bronze
In the boxNP-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 separateNP-BG1, external battery charger, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card not supplied

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