Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

Canon PowerShot S95

77

"The Canon PowerShot S95 produces images of excellent quality."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's image-quality
"Something that was glaringly missing from the S90 - HD video capture - has been rectified on the S95, with 720p movies at 1280x720 pixels resolution available at 24fps complete with stereo sound."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S95

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Size
Really small
Compact 99x58x29 mm
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
Large sensor
1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

60

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
Size
Really small
Super compact 100x53x23 mm
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Thickness
Thin
0.9"
Weight
Light-weight
150 g
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/3000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon S95

Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.8
Help
At its widest zoom, the S95's lens captures slightly more light (1 f-stop)
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The S95's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 1.9 fps vs 0.8 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95

Advantages of the Canon SD980 IS

Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Size Smaller 100x53x23 mm vs 99x58x29 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 5 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 40% closer to the lens
Thickness Thinner 0.9" vs 1.2"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 150 g vs 193 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Zoom Slightly more zoom 5x vs 3.8x
Help
Around 80% more zoom
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/3000s vs 1/1600s
Help
Around 50% faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Learn more about
the Canon SD980 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S95
77 vs 60
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S95. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a compact.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the S95 or the SD980 IS,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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0
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by Gloria-Isaac-Hills this month
Canon G12 vs Canon S95

I want the ability to shot landscape shots and zoom in on mountains and such. 

-1
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by Johnette-LaBorde last month
Canon G12 vs Canon S95

I am a beginner wanting mostly sloe up- people shots- not si much landscape- aI also have a Niko...

1
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by Alex-Ayala last month
Canon S95 vs Nikon P310

I am an architect and I need a canara for outdoor shooting, I use the images as a suport for my...

0
votes
by Maria-Mangiore-Kohrs this month
Canon 310 HS vs Canon S95

Somewhere in the middle.... not an expert at all but not really a beginner either... posed dance...

One person recommends the Canon 310 HS:

" Maria, I recommend the Elph 310 HS is your best selection for your criteria.  primarily because ..."

1
votes
by Randy-Roussel last month
Canon 300 HS vs Canon S95

Not a beginner but no where near an expert. I enjoy taking pictures and making movies for the litt...

2 people recommend the Canon S95:

" I also agree with Alex.  The faster glass and larger sensor in the S95 will allow for faster shu..."

"Hi Randy, I'm recommending the S95, but you should consider its successor the S100. The S100 (and ..."

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
S95:f/2.0
SD980 IS:f/2.8
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
S95:1.9 fps
SD980 IS:0.8 fps
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
S95:720p @ 24fps
SD980 IS:720p @ 30fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S95:3.8x
SD980 IS:5x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $324

Zoom Has much more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon ELPH 310 HS

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Travel zoom

$195 - $196

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Wide angle Has a significantly narrower wide angle lens

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Much larger
Supports 24p No 24p support
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Size Much larger
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS

Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS

Pro digicam

$294

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Touch screen No touch screen
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$103 - $189

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Touch screen No touch screen
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS

Canon PowerShot SD960 IS

Compact

Macro focus Better macro capability
Size Slightly smaller
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Touch screen No touch screen
Fujifilm FinePix XP10

Fujifilm FinePix XP10

Waterproof

$164

Waterproof Waterproof
Weight Lighter
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Aperture Much narrower aperture

appearance

Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

discussion

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