Kodak EasyShare Z980 Review

Main Features

12MP - 1/2.33" CCD Sensor

ISO 64 - 6400

26-624 mm F2.8-5.0 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3″ Fixed Type Screen

Electronic viewfinder

1 fps continuous shooting

1280 x 720 video resolution

445g. 124 x 91 x 105 mm

$349.99

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Kodak Z980 Overview

First introduced in January 2009 , Kodak EasyShare Z980 is a 12.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor.

Kodak Z980 has an Overall Score of 54/100 and ranked #60 out of 621 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #418 out of 1150 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Kodak Z980 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Kodak Z980 Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of Kodak Z980's specs and feature, and list out its pros and cons compared to average cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

External Flash Shoe

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

RAW Shooting

25 Focus Points

Manual Focusing

Manual Exposure

26mm Wide Angle Lens

624mm Good Tele Lens

24X Optical Zoom

Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide

Buy Kodak Z980 from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

Low Screen Resolution ( 201kdots )

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps

Heavy Body: 445

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.00

Kodak Z980 Sensor and Photography Features

Kodak Z980 has a 12.0MP 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. Z980 has a native ISO range of 64 - 6400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Kodak Z980 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Kodak Z980 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Kodak Z980's 1/2.33" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Kodak Z980 Physical Specs

Kodak Z980 weighs 445 g (0.98 lb / 15.70 oz) and has external dimensions of 124 x 91 x 105 mm (4.88 x 3.58 x 4.13″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 187g, Kodak Z980 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 105mm, it is not small either, 76mm thicker than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Kodak Z980

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Kodak Z980

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Kodak Z980 with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Kodak Z980, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Kodak Z980 with its main competitors:

Kodak Z980 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs Z980	Thickness	vs Z980
Canon SX410 IS	20.0MP - 1/2.3	325g	120g lighter	85mm	20mm thinner
Fujifilm Z900EXR	16.0MP - 1/2"	151g	294g lighter	18mm	87mm thinner
Canon G16	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	356g	89g lighter	40mm	65mm thinner
Pentax MX-1	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	391g	54g lighter	51mm	54mm thinner
Olympus SP-565UZ	10.0MP - 1/2.33"	413g	32g lighter	81mm	24mm thinner
Fujifilm X30	12.0MP - 2/3"	423g	22g lighter	60mm	45mm thinner
Nikon P7800	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	399g	46g lighter	50mm	55mm thinner
Olympus SZ-15	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	250g	195g lighter	40mm	65mm thinner

Kodak Z980 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.

Kodak Z980 Lens

Kodak Z980 features a 26-624 mm F2.8-5.0 24× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 26mm and remarkable super telephoto reach at 624mm.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

Z980

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

Z980

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but only moderately fast at the tele end with max aperture of f5.00.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

Z980

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

Z980

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Z980 is also equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Kodak Z980's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Kodak Z980 Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Kodak Z980 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 201k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Z980 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder.

Max Shutter speed
Kodak Z980 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

Flash
Z980 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

Focusing
Kodak Z980 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 25 points to choose from.

Video Features
With Kodak Z980, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG 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 .

Z980 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
Kodak Z980 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Fujifilm X30 or Olympus XZ-2 iHS in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

You can connect Z980 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Kodak Z980 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Canon SX410 IS >>Compare to Z980	1280 x 720	185shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm Z900EXR >>Compare to Z980	1920 x 1080	220shots	No	No	No
Canon G16 >>Compare to Z980	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	No
Pentax MX-1 >>Compare to Z980	1920 x 1080	290shots	No	No	No
Olympus SP-565UZ >>Compare to Z980	640 x 480	shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm X30 >>Compare to Z980	1920 x 1080	470shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon P7800 >>Compare to Z980	1920 x 1080	350shots	No	No	No
Olympus SZ-15 >>Compare to Z980	1920 x 1080	shots	Yes	No	No

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Kodak Z980 is $349.99

$349.99

What type of Photography is Kodak Z980 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Kodak Z980 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the Z980 compares with the average Compact camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Kodak Z980 for Portrait Photography

Kodak Z980 has a score of 62 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode

Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Kodak Z980 for Portrait Photography

Kodak Z980 for Street Photography

Kodak Z980 has a score of 83 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Image Stabilization
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80

26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
RAW shooting capability
Small Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Kodak Z980 for Street Photography

Kodak Z980 for Sports Photography

Kodak Z980 has a score of 35 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 theZ980.

25 Focus Points
Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
External Flash Shoe
Image Stabilization

624 mm Tele Lens
RAW shooting capability
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Kodak Z980 for Sports Photography

Kodak Z980 for Daily Photography

Kodak Z980 has a score of 67 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
24X Optical Zoom
RAW shooting capability

445g
Body Thickness 105mm
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Kodak Z980 for Daily Photography

Kodak Z980 for Landscape Photography

Kodak Z980 has a score of 47 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
RAW shooting capability

Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Kodak Z980 for Landscape Photography

Kodak Z980 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Kodak Z980 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of Z980 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Kodak Z980 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Kodak Z980

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Kodak Z980 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Canon SX410 IS

Compare

Fujifilm Z900EXR

Compare

Canon G16

Compare

Pentax MX-1

Compare

Olympus SP-565UZ

Compare

Fujifilm X30

Compare

Nikon P7800

Compare

Olympus SZ-15

Compare

Kodak Z980 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Kodak Z980 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Kodak Z980's price range.

Olympus E-M10 II

Compare

Panasonic GX7

Compare

Panasonic G7

Compare

Olympus E-M10

Compare

Olympus E-PL7

Compare

Sony a5100

Compare

Sony NEX-6

Compare

Fujifilm X-A3

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Kodak Z980

Does the Kodak Z980 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Kodak Z980 have RAW support?
Does the Kodak Z980 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Kodak Z980 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Kodak Z980?
What is the Sensor Size of Kodak Z980?
is the Kodak Z980 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Kodak Z980 have Touch Screen?
Does the Kodak Z980 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Kodak Z980?

Kodak EasyShare Z980 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Kodak
Model	Kodak EasyShare Z980
Announced	2009-01-05
Body Type	Compact
Price	$349.99
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	26-624 mm (24×)
Max Aperture	F2.8-5.0
Macro Focus Range	10cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3″
Screen Resolution	201k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	n/a
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	16s
Max Shutter Speed	1/2000s
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	6.30 m
Flash Modes	Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off
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	1/2.33"
Sensor Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Sensor Area	27.72mm²
Sensor Resolution	12 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4000 x 3000
Max Native ISO	6,400
Min Native ISO	64
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	25
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
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	445g
Physical Dimensions	124 x 91 x 105mm
Battery Model	4 x AA
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage Slots	1