Canon SD980 IS Review

Name: Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Brand: Canon

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Main Features

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

24-120 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

and HD at 30fps Video Recording

150g. 100 x 53 x 23 mm

Also known as Digital IXUS 200 IS

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Canon SD980 IS Overview

First introduced in August 2009 , Canon PowerShot SD980 IS is a 12.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 5.0x zoom 24-120 mm F2.8-5.9 lens. SD980 IS is also sold as Digital IXUS 200 IS in some countries.

Canon SD980 IS Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Canon SD980 IS is a member of Canon's Small Sensor Compact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Canon Small Sensor Compact Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Canon S200 Compare	2014	10.0MP - 1/1.7'	2.0 fps	100 x 59 x 26mm	181g
Canon N100 Compare	2014	12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch	fps	105 x 68 x 36mm	289g
Canon S120 Compare	2013	12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch	12.0 fps	100 x 59 x 29mm	217g
Canon G16 Compare	2013	12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch	12.0 fps	109 x 76 x 40mm	356g
Canon N Facebook ready Compare	2013	12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	2.0 fps	79 x 60 x 29mm	195g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Canon S200 vs N100 vs S120 vs G16 vs N Facebook ready

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Canon SD980 IS PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Canon SD980 IS review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

Touch Screen

1/3000s High Shutter Speed

150g Light Body

Manual Exposure

24mm Wide Angle Lens

Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide

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Buy Canon SD980 IS from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Only 9 Focus Points

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps

No Manual Focusing

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

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Canon SD980 IS Physical Specs

Canon SD980 IS weighs 150 g (0.33 lb / 5.29 oz) and has external dimensions of 100 x 53 x 23 mm (3.94 x 2.09 x 0.91″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Canon SD980 IS is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 23mm, it is also quite small, 5mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Canon SD980 IS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Canon SD980 IS

Min

Average

Max

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Canon SD980 IS, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Canon SD980 IS Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Canon SD980 IS with its main competitors:

Canon SD980 IS Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs SD980 IS	Thickness	vs SD980 IS
Canon ELPH 190 IS Compare	138g	12g lighter	24mm	1mm thicker
Canon SX720 HS Compare	270g	120g heavier	36mm	13mm thicker
Canon S200 Compare	181g	31g heavier	26mm	3mm thicker
Canon SD1200 IS Compare	160g	10g heavier	22mm	1mm thinner
Panasonic LF1 Compare	192g	42g heavier	28mm	5mm thicker
Fujifilm XF10 Compare	279g	129g heavier	41mm	18mm thicker
Canon S120 Compare	217g	67g heavier	29mm	6mm thicker
Canon ELPH 360 HS Compare	147g	3g lighter	23mm	equal thickness

Weather Sealing

Canon SD980 IS doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Canon SD980 IS Lens

Canon SD980 IS features a 24-120 mm F2.8-5.9 5× zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 24mm focal length on the wide end, while 120mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

SD980 IS

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SD980 IS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but max aperture of f5.90 at tele end makes is really slow at longer focal lengths.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SD980 IS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SD980 IS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

SD980 IS is equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Canon SD980 IS Sensor and Photography Features

Canon SD980 IS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. SD980 IS has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600 but unfortunately, Canon SD980 IS doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Canon SD980 IS is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero9 Black with its 23.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Canon SD980 IS vs GoPro Hero9 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Canon SD980 IS's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Canon SD980 IS Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Canon SD980 IS LCD

Canon SD980 IS has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

Unfortunately Canon PowerShot SD980 IS doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

SD980 IS doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare).
Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

Canon SD980 IS Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect SD980 IS to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Canon SD980 IS Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Canon ELPH 190 IS Compare	1280 x 720	190shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon SX720 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	250shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon S200 Compare	1280 x 720	200shots	Yes	No	No
Canon SD1200 IS Compare	640 x 480	260shots	No	No	No
Panasonic LF1 Compare	1920 x 1080	250shots	Yes	No	Yes
Fujifilm XF10 Compare	3840 x 2160	330shots	Yes	Yes	No
Canon S120 Compare	1920 x 1080	230shots	Yes	No	No
Canon ELPH 360 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	180shots	Yes	No	Yes

Canon SD980 IS Video Features

With Canon SD980 IS, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and H.264 formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

SD980 IS has a built-in Mono microphone and a None speaker. On the other hand, Canon SD980 IS doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

Canon SD980 IS Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Canon SD980 IS can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/3000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately SD980 IS doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Canon SD980 IS features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

What type of Photography is Canon SD980 IS Good for?

In this section, we review and score Canon SD980 IS in 5 different photography areas.

Canon SD980 IS for Portrait Photography

Canon SD980 IS has a score of 23 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSD980 IS.

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD980 IS for Portrait Photography

Canon SD980 IS for Street Photography

Canon SD980 IS has a score of 52 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Image Stabilization
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD980 IS for Street Photography

Canon SD980 IS for Sports Photography

Canon SD980 IS has a score of 18 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSD980 IS.

Manual Exposure Mode
Image Stabilization
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3000s
120 mm Tele Lens
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points

Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD980 IS for Sports Photography

Canon SD980 IS for Daily Photography

Canon SD980 IS has a score of 48 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
150g
5.0X Optical Zoom

Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD980 IS for Daily Photography

Canon SD980 IS for Landscape Photography

Canon SD980 IS has a score of 20 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSD980 IS.

Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Manual Focus Mode

No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD980 IS for Landscape Photography

Canon SD980 IS Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Canon SD980 IS compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Canon SD980 IS alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Canon SD980 IS

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Canon SD980 IS amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Canon SD980 IS Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Canon SD980 IS with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Canon SD980 IS's price range.

Canon SD980 IS Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Canon SD980 IS has an Overall Score of 35/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Canon PowerShot SD980 IS is ranked #304 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #902 out of 1242 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#902 out of 1242 in Top Ranking Cameras
#304 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
#85 out of 262 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Compact Cameras
#400 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#202 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(150g)
#591 out of 917 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Canon SD980 IS

Does the Canon SD980 IS have Image Stabilization?
Does the Canon SD980 IS have RAW support?
Does the Canon SD980 IS have Weather Sealing?
Does the Canon SD980 IS have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Canon SD980 IS?
What is the Sensor Size of Canon SD980 IS?
is the Canon SD980 IS a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Canon SD980 IS have Touch Screen?
Does the Canon SD980 IS have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Canon SD980 IS?
What is the Weight of Canon SD980 IS?
What are the Dimensions of Canon SD980 IS?

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Canon
Model	Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Also known as	Digital IXUS 200 IS
Announced	2009-08-19
Body Type	Compact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-120 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F2.8-5.9
Macro Focus Range	3cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	15s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/3000s
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.50 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.3-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	12 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4000 x 3000
Max Native ISO	1,600
Min Native ISO	80
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	150g
Physical Dimensions	100 x 53 x 23mm
Battery Model	NB-6L
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Storage Slots	1

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