Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs.
In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony S980 and Panasonic GF7 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony S980 has external dimensions of 93 x 56 x 24 mm (3.66 x 2.2 x 0.94″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic GF7 has external dimensions of 107 x 65 x 33 mm (4.21 x 2.56 x 1.3″) and weighs 266 g (0.59 lb / 9.38 oz) (including batteries).
Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony S980 and the Panasonic GF7. Sony S980 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 14mm narrower, 9mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Panasonic GF7. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Sony S980 has a built-in lens but Panasonic GF7 doesn't. Once you put a lens on GF7, its thickness will increase significantly.
Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day.
Sony S980 is significantly lighter (99g ) than the Panasonic GF7 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.
Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on GF7, the total kit will weigh much higher.
Weather Sealing
Unfortunately neither the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections: Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing
LCD Screen Size and Features
Panasonic GF7's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony S980's 2.7" screen.
In addition to the size advantage, Panasonic GF7 LCD screen also has a
Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Sony S980 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to GF7.