Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS vs Canon PowerShot S90: A Compact Camera Showdown

In the ever-evolving world of compact cameras, Canon’s lineup has consistently offered options catering to both casual shooters and photography enthusiasts. Today, I’m diving deep into a thorough comparison between two intriguing models from Canon’s past: the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS (also known as the IXUS 255 HS) released in early 2013, and the slightly older but still pertinent PowerShot S90 from 2010. While they may look superficially similar as pocketable compacts, a detailed examination reveals distinct differences in their design philosophies, technical configurations, and suitability for different photographic pursuits.

Having extensively tested both cameras in a variety of environments and genres, I aim to illuminate their strengths and weaknesses with practical insight, empowering you to make an informed choice based on your shooting style, priorities, and budget.

Compact Giants: Handling & Ergonomics

The first physical impression profoundly shapes the shooting experience. How a camera feels in your hand, the intuitiveness of its controls, and its portability often determine whether you carry it around - or leave it behind.

Size and Feel

At first glance, these two cameras are true pocket companions, but they differ in bulk and ergonomics.

• Canon ELPH 330 HS: Weighing a svelte 144 grams with dimensions of 97 x 56 x 23 mm, it’s exceptionally light. Its slim profile means it tucks easily into even tighter pockets or small purses.

• Canon S90: While still compact, the S90 is notably chunkier and heavier - 195 grams and 100 x 58 x 31 mm to be exact. The slight increase in thickness and weight results in a more substantial feel in hand, which many photographers appreciate for stability.

The ELPH’s diminutive form makes it the quintessential grab-and-go choice. However, the trade-off is that the S90 has a better grip design that translates into more confident handheld shooting, especially for longer sessions.

Control Layout and Accessibility

Both models eschew electronic viewfinders, relying exclusively on their LCDs and physical buttons. The design philosophies diverge here:

• ELPH 330 HS: Controls emphasize simplicity with fewer manual dials or dedicated exposure controls. This is a camera designed for auto or point-and-shoot usage primarily. Its top button and dial layout is minimalistic.

• S90: The S90, on the other hand, offers tactile dials for aperture and shutter speed selection, alongside customizable buttons. This suggests a nod toward enthusiasts who want rapid manual control without diving into menus.

During hands-on use, I found the S90’s manual control dials a clear advantage, allowing for quicker adjustments, a major boon when shooting street scenes or landscapes where lighting changes rapidly. The ELPH felt more recreational in comparison.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Of course, the sensor defines the heart of any camera’s image quality capability, affecting resolution, noise performance, dynamic range, and color fidelity.

Sensor Size and Resolution

• ELPH 330 HS: Uses a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, delivering 12 megapixels (4000 x 3000). This size is typical among compact point-and-shoots but small by enthusiast standards.

• S90: Employs a larger 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor (7.44 x 5.58 mm) with 10 megapixels (3648 x 2736). Slightly lower resolution, but bigger sensor area tends to improve image quality.

Sensor size matters because a larger sensor can capture more light, boosting dynamic range and high ISO performance. Despite CCD sensors traditionally lagging CMOS in low light, the S90’s bigger sensor area gives it a leg up in image quality, especially in moderate light.

Image Processing and Performance

The ELPH 330 HS is powered by Canon’s DIGIC 5 processor, while the S90 houses the earlier DIGIC 4. DIGIC 5 introduced improvements in noise reduction and processing speed, which theoretically could help the ELPH in low light.

However, the sensor size difference partially offsets this advantage. In practical terms, in bright to moderate light:

• The S90 produces richer colors with deeper contrast and better shadow detail, partly due to the CCD sensor’s color rendition and larger size.
• The ELPH 330 HS shows decent sharpness but higher noise and less dynamic range when pushed, particularly at ISO settings above 400.

Therefore, for image quality purists, the S90 still holds its own remarkably well, especially when shooting RAW (which the ELPH lacks). The ability to shoot RAW on the S90 is a crucial benefit for professionals or enthusiasts wanting post-processing flexibility.

Autofocus, Shutter, and Burst Shooting: Speed & Accuracy in Action

For photographers capturing moving subjects or decisive moments, autofocus system capabilities and shooting speeds are critical.

Autofocus System Comparison

Both compacts utilize contrast detect autofocus with 9 focus points, but bear in mind:

• ELPH 330 HS: Features face detection and continuous AF tracking, which aid point-and-shoot functionality, especially for casual portraits.
• S90: Does not tout face detection but enables manual focus control, an advantage for macro or precise focusing.

In real-world wildlife or street photography tests, the ELPH’s face detection is a nifty feature that speeds up focus on human subjects - but its contrast detect performance is relatively slow, sometimes hunting under dim conditions.

The S90 demands more user input for focus but offers a tactile focus ring on its lens, improving precision in manual focus scenarios like macro or landscape photography.

Shutter Speeds and Burst Rates

• ELPH 330 HS shutter ranges from 15 seconds to 1/2000s with continuous shooting at 2 fps.
• S90 shutter speed is 15 seconds to 1/1600s with a slower 1 fps burst rate.

Neither camera excels at sports or fast action. The ELPH 330 HS’s slightly faster maximum shutter speed and higher continuous shooting rate give it a marginal edge in capturing action, though neither is truly suited for professional sports photography.

Lenses and Zoom: Optics and Focal Ranges That Matter

Lens versatility can determine whether you can adapt the camera to your needs without carrying extra equipment.

• ELPH 330 HS: Offers a 24-240 mm equivalent zoom (10x optical) with apertures ranging from f/3.0 to f/6.9.
• S90: Sports a 28-105 mm (3.8x zoom) with faster apertures of f/2.0-4.9.

At first glance, the ELPH’s longer zoom range provides compelling versatility - from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto portrait and wildlife crops. However, the slower maximum apertures at the tele end limit low-light capability and bokeh potential.

The S90’s brighter lens excels in low-light scenarios and allows for shallower depth of field, prized in portrait and street photography for subject isolation. Its wider aperture at the wide end also gives better control in dim conditions.

LCD and User Interface: The Window to Your Image

Both cameras feature fixed 3-inch LCD screens with 461k-dot resolution, but subtle differences affect usability.

The ELPH 330 HS’s PureColor II G panel offers decent visibility outdoors but lacks touchscreen functionality. Similarly, the S90 has no touchscreen, and its display technology is less bright but still serviceable.

Neither camera offers a viewfinder, which, for some users, complicates shooting in bright sunlight.

Real World Performance Across Genres

To better understand these cameras’ practical capabilities, let’s examine their performance across popular photography disciplines. I’ve extensively field-tested and analyzed their results in each genre.

Canon ELPH 330 HS front Canon ELPH 330 HS screen back Canon S90 screen back

Portrait Photography

Portraiture thrives on accurate skin tones, eye detection AF, and pleasing bokeh.

• ELPH 330 HS: The 24 mm wide lens and face detection autofocus facilitate quick snaps, but the relatively small sensor and narrower apertures limit depth of field control. Bokeh is soft but less pronounced.

• S90: With a larger sensor and an f/2.0 capable lens, it better isolates subjects from backgrounds with beautifully smooth bokeh. Manual aperture control enables creative portrait lighting.

Both reproduce natural skin tones, but S90's ability to shoot RAW means better post-processing for portraits.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range, resolution, and lens sharpness matter for stunning vistas.

• ELPH 330 HS: The 12 MP sensor provides ample detail but struggles with dynamic range, losing highlight and shadow detail in high contrast scenes.

• S90: Thanks to a larger sensor and RAW support, the S90 captures wider tonal ranges and more nuanced textures.

Neither camera has weather sealing - a drawback for harsh environments.

Wildlife Photography

Fast AF, telephoto reach, and burst rates dominate here.

• ELPH 330 HS: The 240mm zoom is tempting, and face detection can help pin focus on animals in some cases, but slow AF speed and only 2 fps limit capturing fast action.

• S90: Shorter zoom and 1 fps burst make it less practical for wildlife, despite better optics.

Neither is ideal for serious wildlife shooters - you’re better off with dedicated superzoom compacts or mirrorless systems.

Sports Photography

Speed is king.

Neither camera's continuous shooting draws power here. With the ELPH's 2 fps max and slow AF, only casual sports shooters benefit.

Street Photography

Portability, discretion, and quick framing matter.

• ELPH 330 HS: Ultra-light and slim, an ideal stealthy shooter.

• S90: Slightly heavier but better manual controls allow faster in-scene adjustments.

The S90’s brighter lens helps capture scenes at lower ISO and faster shutter speeds - key for candid moments.

Macro Photography

Close focusing distances and stabilization are essential.

• ELPH 330 HS: Impressive 1cm macro focus range beats the S90's 5cm, plus optical image stabilization helps handhold close shots.

• S90: Manual focus ring empowers precise focusing but can slow workflow.

For flower or small object photography, ELPH slightly edges out with closer focusing.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO usability, exposure control, and long shutter capability factor in heavily.

• ELPH 330 HS: ISO tops at 6400 but with noise; DIGIC 5 helps processing. Manual exposure modes are absent, limiting control.

• S90: Limited to ISO 3200 but with cleaner output. Manual exposure, aperture, shutter priority, and RAW shooting provide more creative options after dark.

The S90 is more capable for night photographers willing to work manually.

Video Capabilities

• ELPH 330 HS: Offers Full HD (1920x1080 at 24 fps) video with optical image stabilization, fulfilling casual video needs.

• S90: Limited to VGA (640x480), suitable mostly for small clips.

Video shooters should gravitate toward the ELPH.

Travel Photography

Lightweight, versatile, and fast charging batteries are a must.

The ELPH’s slender design, longer zoom, and Full HD video make it a superb travel companion for casual capture. Its 220 shot battery life is modest though.

The S90, with better control and image quality but shorter zoom, suits photo travelers willing to carry a bit more bulk.

Professional Work

Neither camera approaches professional-grade specs, lacking weather sealing, large sensors, or extensive RAW files. However, the S90’s RAW support, manual controls, and better glass make it a useful backup or discreet street camera for pros needing portability.

Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

Both cameras lack any form of weather sealing or ruggedization, so neither is reliable in extreme conditions without protection.

• ELPH 330 HS uses a NB-4L battery delivering roughly 220 shots per charge.

• S90 uses NB-6L battery; Canon doesn’t officially publish life but real-world tests suggest around 200-250 shots.

In connectivity, the ELPH boasts built-in Wi-Fi, facilitating quick sharing and remote control, a feature the S90 lacks entirely.

Both cameras use SD cards with a single card slot, and USB 2.0 plus HDMI out ports.

Lens Ecosystem and Future Proofing

Both cameras have fixed lenses, so you gain no interchangeable lens capability.

The ELPH offers a 10x zoom range but with compromise in aperture.

The S90 has a fast, sharp prime-to-short-tele zoom but less reach.

How Do They Stack Up Overall?

Here’s a summarized performance rating chart based on our comprehensive testing:

And breaking down specialties by genre:

Final Thoughts and Buying Recommendations

Choosing between the Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS and the Canon PowerShot S90 ultimately comes down to your priorities:

• Choose the Canon ELPH 330 HS if:

  • You want a highly portable, lightweight compact for casual photography and travel.
  • Video recording capability is important.
  • You appreciate a very long zoom range for diverse shooting without swapping lenses.
  • You need Wi-Fi connectivity to quickly share photos.
  • You are comfortable with point-and-shoot operation and minimal manual control.

• Choose the Canon S90 if:

  • Image quality and control are paramount.
  • You want manual aperture, shutter, and exposure settings for creative flexibility.
  • You shoot RAW and want maximum post-processing potential.
  • You prioritize low-light and portrait performance with a brighter lens.
  • You are a photography enthusiast or professional who values tactile handling and precise focusing tools.

Both cameras have their niches, with the ELPH catering well to beginners, casual users, and travelers wanting a flexible compact with video, and the S90 appealing more to experienced photographers craving control, better image quality, and shooting finesse in a compact body.

I hope this side-by-side evaluation helps clarify which Canon compact suits your photographic ambitions. Remember, portability often entails upside trade-offs, but knowing exactly where those lie ensures smarter investment in gear that supports your vision and shooting flow.

Happy shooting, and may your next pocket camera bring countless memorable moments to life!