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Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Canon PowerShot A1100 IS front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Canon A1100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 62 x 31mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced February 2010
Photography Glossary

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Overview

Here is a complete review of the Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the A1100 IS (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is relatively well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A1100 IS was manufactured 12 months before the W90 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A1100 IS grades vs the W90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1100 IS over the Pentax W90

 A1100 IS W90 

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Canon A1100 IS

 W90 A1100 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2010February 2009Fresher by 12 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k115kSharper screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1100 IS and Pentax W90

 A1100 IS W90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Canon A1100 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has proportions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A1100 IS vs 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 vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the A1100 IS versus the W90.

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A1100 IS and W90 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A1100 IS and W90.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution and you can expect similar quality of photos however you will need to factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The older A1100 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1100 IS Portrait photography info
Pentax W90 Portrait photography info
26
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A1100 IS Street photography features
Pentax W90 Street photography features
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1100 IS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1100 IS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Travel photography camera
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
64
environment sealing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A1100 IS
Landscape photography with Pentax W90
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
37
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1100 IS Vlogging information
Pentax W90 Vlogging information
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
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Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1100 IS and Pentax W90
 Canon PowerShot A1100 ISPentax Optio W90
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A1100 IS Pentax Optio W90
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2009-02-18 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Screen resolution 115 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 grams (0.33 lb) 164 grams (0.36 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $160 $120