Canon PowerShot S90

    57
    Image cannot be found

    Highlights

    • 10.0 MP 1/1.7-inch CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 3,200 Native ISO
    • 9 Focus Points
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 461k dot Fixed Screen
    • 0.9 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 640 x 480 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
    Image cannot be found
    Image cannot be found

    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Canon PowerShot S90 was announced in 2010 and is a 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm) Standard Compact camera with 10.0 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 3,200. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 461k dot resolution. It has an image stabilization.

    Canon PowerShot S90 can capture video up to 640 x 480 resolution.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Successor
    4. Screen
    5. Sensor
    6. Photography Features
    7. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    8. Other Features
    9. Physical Parameters
    10. For Different Types of Photography
    11. Evaluation
    12. Specifications  

    Here is the Canon PowerShot Sx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Canon PowerShot Sx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Canon S200
    Compare
    		February
    2014    		 12.1 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon S120
    Compare
    		November
    2013    		 12.1 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 12,800 Fixed 3.0"
    922k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Canon S110
    Compare
    		September
    2012    		 12.1 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 12,800 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Canon S100
    Compare
    		December
    2011    		 12.1 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon S95
    Compare
    		November
    2010    		 10 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 3,200 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon S90 April
    2010    		 10.0 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 3,200 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Canon PowerShot S200 vs PowerShot S120 vs PowerShot S110 vs PowerShot S100 vs PowerShot S95 vs PowerShot S90.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot S90.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Light - 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.0 Megapixel
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low DxO Overall Score - 46
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 3.0"

    Successor

    In 2010 Canon PowerShot S90 was replaced by Canon PowerShot S95. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Canon PowerShot S90 and its successor.

    UPGRADES Canon PowerShot S95 vs Canon PowerShot S90
    Face Detection vs
    Higher DxO Color Depth 20.4 vs 20.2
    Higher DxO Dynamic Range 11.3 vs 11.0
    Higher DxO Overall Score 47 vs 46
    Higher Video Resolution 1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480
    Speaker Stereo vs Mono
    DOWNGRADES Canon PowerShot S95 vs Canon PowerShot S90
    Lower DxO Low Light ISO 153 vs 185
    Built-in Microphone vs Mono
    Less Storage Slots 0 vs 1

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Canon PowerShot S90 vs PowerShot S95.

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Canon PowerShot S90 has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 461k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.

    Sensor

    Canon PowerShot S90 features a 10.0 megapixel 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 7.44 x 5.58 mm and a total area of 41.5 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 3,200.

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with DIGIC 4 processor and can take pictures up to 3648 x 2736 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3648 x 2048, 2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 with 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot S90.

    Canon S200
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon S95
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    10 MP

    Canon S110
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon S100
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon S120
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon R100
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.1 MP

    Nikon Z7 II
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    45.7 MP

    Canon R50
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon R8
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.2 MP

    Nikon Z8
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    45.7 MP

    Canon R10
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Sony a6100
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Canon PowerShot S90 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is an HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Canon PowerShot S90 comes with NB-6L battery pack.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus card card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Canon PowerShot S90's shutter speed can go up to 1/1600 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 0.9 fps.


    Flash

    Canon PowerShot S90 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 6.50 m. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/500 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Canon PowerShot S90 has dimensions of 100 x 58 x 31 mm (3.94 x 2.28 x 1.22"). It weighs 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    100 mm (3.94")

    58 mm (2.28")

    Image cannot be displayed


    58 mm (2.28")

    Image cannot be displayed

    Canon PowerShot S90 dimensions

    Canon PowerShot S90 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Canon PowerShot S90 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    AVERAGE
    59

    Canon PowerShot S90 gets a score of 59 and is AVERAGE choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    POOR
    53

    Canon PowerShot S90 gets a score of 53 and is POOR choice for Sports photography.

    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    56

    Canon PowerShot S90 gets a score of 56 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    AVERAGE
    66

    Canon PowerShot S90 gets a score of 66 and is AVERAGE choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    83

    Canon PowerShot S90 gets a score of 83 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    87

    Canon PowerShot S90 gets a score of 87 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz)

    Canon PowerShot S90 Evaluation

    We evaluate Canon PowerShot S90 and give score of 57 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    57

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    61

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 61 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.0 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   Low DxO Overall Score - 46

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    65

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 65 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    POOR
    41

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 41 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    58

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 58 for Focusing parameters.

    •   9 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    53

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 53 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    AVERAGE
    55

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 55 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    54

    We give Canon PowerShot S90 a score of 54 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz)


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

    Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
    ZKelectronics is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, .co.uk, .ca, etc) and any other websites that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.