• 1/2.33 inch 28.2mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 33.00mm - 132.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 18.2 megapixels
  • 26.00mm - 130.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Sony DSC-S980 advantages over Sony TX30

  • Less expensive
    $149 vs $350 (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/3.5
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 310 vs 250 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 10 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony TX30 advantages over Sony DSC-S980

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Thinner
    15 mm vs 23 mm
    Thinner
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    1229k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More pixels
    18.2 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle lens
    26 mm vs 33 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Longer exposure
    4 vs 1 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 1.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 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

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Sony DSC-S980

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Buy the Sony TX30
Sony TX30

Review Excerpt

  • Good image and video quality for a compact waterproof camera; Stylish, pocketable design; Improved ruggedness; Speedy performance including 10 fps continuous shooting at full resolution.

  • Touchscreen unusable and unviewable while submerged; Slim, slick design makes it unwieldy to hold (and difficult to hang onto!) underwater; Poor battery life.

  • Read our Sony TX30 Express Review

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

Sony TX30
Pentax P70
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Focus peaking
  • $200
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony TX30 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

Sony TX30
Pentax P80
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Waterproof
  • $200
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony TX30 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

Sony TX30
Olympus FE-4020
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Focus peaking
  • $150
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger lens aperture

Compare Sony TX30 vs Olympus FE-4020

Compared to Sony DSC-TX10

Sony DSC-S980
Sony DSC-TX10
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Thinner

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Sony DSC-TX10

Sony TX30
Sony DSC-TX10
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch

Compare Sony TX30 vs Sony DSC-TX10

Compared to Sony TX200V

Sony DSC-S980
Sony TX200V
  • $149
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $363
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony DSC-S980 vs Sony TX200V

Sony TX30
Sony TX200V
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $363
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Sony TX30 vs Sony TX200V

Compare Other Cameras?