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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-S980SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20092015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution12.1 MP18.2 MP
Largest image4000 × 30004896 × 3672
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 back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS; approximately 18.2 million effective and 21.1 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 with Fine or Standard compression; maximum 4896 × 3672 in 4:3, 4896 × 3264 in 3:2, 4896 × 2752 in 16:9 or 3664 × 3664 in 1:1. Sweep Panorama standard, wide or 360-degree up to 11520 × 1080
ISO detail–Single-exposure settings ISO 80–3200, Auto ISO 80–3200. Multi Frame NR extends to ISO 6400/12800 through processed overlaid burst exposures
Image processor–BIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens33–132 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.5–5.6f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom4×30×
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 telephotoZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* thirty-times optical zoom, eleven elements in ten groups including five aspherical elements; five-blade iris, actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent 24–720 mm in 4:3, 25–750 mm in 3:2, 26.5–795 mm in 16:9 or 27.5–825 mm in 1:1. Movie 16:9 Standard 26.5–795 mm, Active 28–1180 mm, Intelligent Active 31–1210 mm; 4:3 Standard 32.5–975 mm, Active 34.5–1450 mm, Intelligent Active 38–1480 mm
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 illuminatorContrast-detection AF-S; AF-C only in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point Wide, centre, Flexible Spot S/M/L and Expand Flexible Spot, with Lock-on AF; approximately 5 cm minimum focus wide or 250 cm telephoto
ShutterAuto 1/8–1/2000 second; Program auto 1–1/2000 second in exact Asia-Pacific maker tableIntelligent Auto 4–1/2000 second; Program Auto 1–1/2000 second; aperture priority 8–1/2000 second; shutter priority and manual 30–1/2000 second
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 inferredMaximum approximately 10 fps at full resolution for ten frames; this is a brief buffered burst rather than sustained continuous shooting. Some modes prevent burst shooting, and flash reduces its speed
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 for photographs. Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic compensation, including rotation correction; Sony’s five-axis launch claim applies to movies and includes electronic correction
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 manually raised pop-up flash, Auto, forced, slow-sync, rear-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3 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, Superior Auto, Program Auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, Memory Recall 1/2/3, scenes, panorama and automatic/scene movie modes. ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; wide-angle F3.5–F8 in aperture priority or manual. Thirteen still-image Picture Effects
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 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 recordingMaximum 1920 × 1080 progressive at 60p NTSC or 50p PAL. XAVC S up to 50 Mbps; AVCHD up to 28 Mbps and MP4 up to 28 Mbps. Japan also lists 1080p30/p24 XAVC S, interlaced AVCHD and 720p30 MP4; regional frame rates differ and PAL/NTSC can be switched. XAVC S requires a Class 10 or faster SDXC card. Approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 28M reaches its 4 GB limit in approximately 20 minutes. Optical zoom works during recording; 4K output is still photographs only
Audio–Built-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; XAVC S LPCM two-channel, AVCHD Dolby Digital two-channel or MP4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size2.7″3″
Screen dots230,400921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 2.7-inch TFT, 230,400 dots; dots are not image pixels. No touchscreen or tilting; histogram display3.0-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD with 921600 dots, manual five-step brightness; tilts upward approximately 180 degrees for self-portraits. No touchscreen or viewfinder
Viewfinder detailNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD–
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)310 photographs400 photographs
Body weight135 g209 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 2015. Sony’s 7 May Hong Kong announcement scheduled mid-June launch after a pre-order period; the prospective date does not establish the actual first on-sale day or month
Recording mediaApproximately 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo (no enhanced PRO-HG transfer speed). No card suppliedSD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support, microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC with adapters, Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro with an adapter
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 inputMulti/micro-USB terminal with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; micro-HDMI output
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC Forum Type 3 Tag for one-touch pairing; smartphone transfer/remote control, TV viewing and computer transfer with compatible software. PlayMemories Camera Apps support and Eye-Fi; no GPS
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-BX1; approximately 400 photographs or 200 minutes under CIPA conditions, approximately 75 minutes actual movie use or 110 minutes continuous movie use, distinct from per-clip limits
ChargingExternal BC-CSK or BC-CSKA charger supplied, region-dependent; optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separate. USB charging not listedIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
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 used101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
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 substitutedApproximately 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black, white or red; regional choices differ
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-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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