Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS vs Olympus PEN E-P3

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

53

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Thickness
Thin
0.9"
Weight
Light-weight
150 g
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Olympus PEN E-P2

35

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon SD980 IS

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 121x70x36 mm
Help
2.5x smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Weight Lighter 150 g vs 355 g
Help
2.4x lighter
Thickness Thinner 0.9" vs 1.4"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Learn more about
the Canon SD980 IS

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2

Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 8.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor NMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3 fps vs 0.8 fps
Help
Around 4x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The PEN E-P2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
4x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3000s
Help
More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
53 vs 35
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a compact with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
SD980 IS:1/3000s
PEN E-P2:1/4000s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant shared competitors found.

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Touch screen No touch screen
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Size Slightly larger
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 PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $307

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Touch screen No touch screen
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

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

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Size Slightly larger
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth

appearance

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus PEN E-P2
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus PEN E-P2
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus PEN E-P2

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