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Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot S90 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2013
Canon S90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-105mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 195g - 100 x 58 x 31mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Newer Model is Canon S95
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Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Canon A3500 IS and Canon S90, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are designed by Canon. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and S90 (10MP) and the A3500 IS (1/2.3") and S90 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The A3500 IS was revealed 2 years after the S90 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the A3500 IS matches up vs the S90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Canon S90

 A3500 IS S90 
RevealedJanuary 2013April 2010More modern by 34 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Canon A3500 IS

 S90 A3500 IS 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Canon S90

 A3500 IS S90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Canon A3500 IS enjoys physical dimensions of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Canon S90 has specifications of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") and a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon A3500 IS and Canon S90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the A3500 IS vs the S90.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3500 IS and S90 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by checking specs. The picture here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3500 IS and S90.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A3500 IS with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Canon A3500 IS will give you greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher A3500 IS should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Portrait photography info
Canon S90 Portrait photography info
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
40
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon S90 as a Street photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (135g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Sports photography factors
Canon S90 Sports photography factors
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Travel photography advice
Canon S90 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition in class (135 grams)
supports focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon S90 as a Landscape photography camera
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
52
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging details
Canon S90 Vlogging details
34
reasonably wide (28mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (135g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
31
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Canon A3500 IS vs Canon S90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Canon S90
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISCanon PowerShot S90
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Canon PowerShot S90
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-07 2010-04-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-105mm (3.8x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 6.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/500 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135g (0.30 lbs) 195g (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 46
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.0
DXO Low light score not tested 185
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-11L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card
Card slots One One
Retail price $115 $599