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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Canon ELPH 500 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-105mm (F2.0-5.8) lens
  • 185g - 101 x 56 x 25mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Alternative Name is IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched February 2010
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The ELPH 500 HS was launched 12 months later than the W90 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ELPH 500 HS grades versus the W90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Pentax W90

 ELPH 500 HS W90 
LaunchedFebruary 2011February 2010Fresher by 12 months
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 W90 ELPH 500 HS 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Pentax W90

 ELPH 500 HS W90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon ELPH 500 HS has got outside dimensions of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has proportions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Pentax W90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the ELPH 500 HS against the W90.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ELPH 500 HS and W90 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ELPH 500 HS and W90.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of images though you might want to factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The younger ELPH 500 HS provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Portrait photography features
Pentax W90 Portrait photography features
26
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography highlights
Pentax W90 Street photography highlights
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (180 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
24
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Travel photography camera
64
includes focus by touch
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (180 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
64
weather sealing
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax W90 Landscape photography highlights
40
fairly wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery pack (180 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
37
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Vlogging with Pentax W90
37
fairly wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
25
really wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Pentax W90
 Canon ELPH 500 HSPentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model type Canon ELPH 500 HS Pentax Optio W90
Also referred to as IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S -
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2011-02-07 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-105mm (4.4x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II Touch TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 gr (0.41 pounds) 164 gr (0.36 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 180 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $175 $120