• 1/2.33 inch 28.2mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 33.00mm - 132.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 18.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 1000.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Sony DSC-S980 advantages over Nikon P520

  • Less expensive
    $149 vs $450 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 1.53 vs 1.26 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/2.5 vs f/3.0
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 310 vs 200 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    23 mm vs 101 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    135g vs 550g
    Lighter weight
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 7 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Nikon P520 advantages over Sony DSC-S980

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • More telephoto lens reach
    1,000 mm vs 132 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    921k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    18.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle lens
    24 mm vs 33 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Longer exposure
    8 vs 1 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.0 fps vs 1.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    6400 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Pentax P70

Sony DSC-S980
Pentax P70
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $200
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Wider angle lens
  • Longer exposure

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Pentax P70

Nikon P520
Pentax P70
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $200
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon P520 vs Pentax P70

Compared to Pentax P80

Sony DSC-S980
Pentax P80
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $200
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Wider angle lens
  • Longer exposure

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Pentax P80

Nikon P520
Pentax P80
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $200
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon P520 vs Pentax P80

Compared to Olympus FE-4020

Sony DSC-S980
Olympus FE-4020
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $150
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
  • Wider angle lens

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Olympus FE-4020

Nikon P520
Olympus FE-4020
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $150
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger lens aperture

Compare Nikon P520 vs Olympus FE-4020

Compared to Nikon P510

Sony DSC-S980
Nikon P510
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $649
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Nikon P510

Nikon P520
Nikon P510
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS
  • $649
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Higher extended ISO

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon P510

Compared to Nikon P530

Sony DSC-S980
Nikon P530
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Nikon P530

Nikon P520
Nikon P530
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Shoots 24p video

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon P530

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