Canon PowerShot SD990 IS

    53
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    Highlights

    • 14.7 MP 1/1.7-inch CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 1,600 Native ISO
    • Image Stabilization
    • 2.50" 230k dot Fixed Screen
    • Optical (tunnel) Viewfinder
    • 1.3 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 640 x 480 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS was announced in 2008 and is a 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm) Ultra Compact camera with 14.7 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 1,600. The camera has a Fixed 2.50" screen with 230k dot resolution and built-in Optical (tunnel) viewfinder. It has an image stabilization.

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS can capture video up to 640 x 480 resolution.

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

    Here is the Canon PowerShot SD9xx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Canon PowerShot SD9xx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Canon SD980 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Canon SD940 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SD960 IS
    Compare
    		February
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 2.80"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SD970 IS
    Compare
    		February
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SD990 IS September
    2008    		 14.7 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 2.50"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Canon PowerShot SD980 IS vs PowerShot SD940 IS vs PowerShot SD960 IS vs PowerShot SD970 IS vs PowerShot SD990 IS.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot SD990 IS.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   Light - 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz)
    •   Internal Storage
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 14.7 Megapixel
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.3 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   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 - 2.50"

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed screen

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS has a 2.50" Fixed screen with 230k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.


    Optical (tunnel) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Optical (tunnel) viewfinder.

    Sensor

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS features a 14.7 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 - 1,600.

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 4416 x 3312 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3648 x 2736, 3072 x 2304, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 4416 x 2480 with 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SD990 IS.

    Canon SD960 IS
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    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SD940 IS
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    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SD970 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SD980 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Sony a6400
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon 7D II
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Canon R6 II
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.2 MP

    Sony a7R III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    42.4 MP

    Canon R7
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    32.5 MP

    Sony WX300
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    18.2 MP

    Olympus SZ-11
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    14 MP

    Fujifilm IS Pro
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    6 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Battery

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS comes with NB-5L battery pack.


    Internal Storage and External Storage Slots

    The camera has 32 MB internal storage and a single SD/SDHC/MMC card card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS's shutter speed can go up to 1/1600 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 1.3 fps.


    Flash

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS has a built-in flash with maximum range of 4.60 m. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/500 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS has dimensions of 98 x 62 x 28 mm (3.86 x 2.44 x 1.1"). It weighs 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    98 mm (3.86")

    62 mm (2.44")

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    62 mm (2.44")

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    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS dimensions

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS 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 SD990 IS is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    POOR
    52

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS gets a score of 52 and is POOR choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    67

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS gets a score of 67 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.3 fps
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    62

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS gets a score of 62 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.3 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    73

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS gets a score of 73 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 2.50"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    87

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS gets a score of 87 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz)

    Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Evaluation

    We evaluate Canon PowerShot SD990 IS and give score of 53 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
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    Sensor

    POOR
    51

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 51 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 14.7 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    63

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 63 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.3 fps
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    POOR
    41

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 41 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480

    Focusing

    GOOD
    70

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 70 for Focusing parameters.

    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    50

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 50 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 2.50"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot

    Connectivity

    BAD
    38

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 38 for Connectivity parameters.

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

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    48

    We give Canon PowerShot SD990 IS a score of 48 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz)
    •   Internal Storage


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

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