Reasons to choose Digital IXUS 980 IS
Released in 2008, Digital IXUS 980 IS has about 42 mm² of sensor area, 14.7 MP effective resolution, and a 205 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS
vs Canon PowerShot A3100 IS
VS
Sensor area
42 mm²
Digital IXUS 980 IS28 mm²
PowerShot A3100 IS- Area ratio
- 1.49:1
- Absolute difference
- 14 mm²
- Relative difference
- 49.2%
The Digital IXUS 980 IS has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
Digital IXUS 980 ISMetricPowerShot A3100 IS
14.7 MPEffective pixels12.1 MP
7.53 × 5.64Sensor6.16 × 4.62
1.7 µmPixel pitch1.53 µm
2.89 µm²Pixel area2.35 µm²
34.61 MP/cm²Pixel density42.52 MP/cm²
4.6Crop factor5.62
—Maximum video—
205 gWeight125 g
SD/SDHC/MMC cardStorageSDHC, Secure Digital
Lithium-Ion NB-5L battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion NB-8L rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The Digital IXUS 980 IS has the larger sensor area. The PowerShot A3100 IS has the lighter body. The Digital IXUS 980 IS has the higher effective resolution. The PowerShot A3100 IS is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose PowerShot A3100 IS
Released in 2010, PowerShot A3100 IS has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 12.1 MP effective resolution, and a 125 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.