Canon G15 vs Pentax H90: A Deep Dive Into Two Compact Powerhouses

Choosing the right compact camera can be a tricky path, especially when balancing features, performance, and budget. Today, we’re stepping up close for an expert comparison between two popular small-sensor compacts: the Canon PowerShot G15 and the Pentax Optio H90. Both cameras target enthusiasts who want more capability than basic point-and-shoots, but from our hands-on testing, they approach this goal quite differently.

Over the course of hundreds of field tests across numerous photography genres - from portraits to travel, landscapes to video work - I’ve examined how each stacks up. We’ll cover everything from sensor performance to ergonomics, autofocus reliability to video specs, and more. Whether you’re upgrading your travel camera or want a compact for casual pro work, this article will help you decide which system aligns best with your creative ambitions.

Understanding Their Place in the Market

Before we get into nitty-gritty specs, know that both cameras are designed for portability and simplicity - yet come from distinct design philosophies and eras. The Canon G15 launched in late 2012 as a higher-end "advanced compact," succeeding the popular G12. Pentax’s H90, released two years earlier in 2010, is a more budget-friendly compact built with straightforward ease of use in mind.

The G15 leans toward serious enthusiasts wanting manual control, excellent optics, and solid build quality without the bulk of a DSLR. Meanwhile, the H90 majors on budget and convenience, catering to casual shooters and beginners.

Hands-On Ergonomics and Design

Picking up both cameras, the first thing you notice is the size and heft difference. The Canon G15 is significantly larger and heavier but offers a robust, comfortable grip with well-laid control rings and buttons. This is a camera designed for photographers who like physical dials and a real tactile experience.

The Pentax H90, by contrast, is compact and lightweight, perfect for slipping into pockets and carrying all day without fatigue.

The G15’s fixed lens extends noticeably from the body, but this is offset by the firm build and rubberized grips. Controls like exposure compensation and manual focus are immediately accessible - a boon when you want to shoot fast without fumbling menus.

The H90 favors simplicity, offering fewer manual controls and a more minimalist button layout. While this keeps the interface approachable, it may frustrate users accustomed to direct settings access.

Taking a top-down view, you’ll see the G15's dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, making it an intuitive tool for on-the-fly adjustments.

In terms of screen quality, the G15 flaunts a larger 3-inch 922k-dot display that’s bright and crisp, good for reviewing shots and navigating menus. The H90’s 2.7-inch screen is noticeably dimmer and lower resolution at 230k dots, which can make detailed review and focusing a bit challenging outdoors.

Sensor and Image Quality: CMOS vs CCD

At the heart of any camera lies the sensor, and here the G15 and H90 reveal significant differences with direct impact on image quality.

• The Canon G15 sports a 1/1.7" CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 × 5.58 mm (sensor area approx 41.5 mm²).
• The Pentax H90 uses a smaller, 1/2.3" CCD sensor at 6.17 × 4.55 mm (approx 28 mm² sensor area).

While both offer the same 12MP resolution (4000 × 3000 pixels), the larger sensor in the G15 enables better light gathering and superior image quality, especially in low-light and high dynamic range situations.

Here’s a quick breakdown of sensor characteristics relevant to you:

The Canon’s CMOS sensor also benefits from the Digic 5 image processor, improving noise control, color accuracy, and processing speed. The H90’s older CCD setup tends to produce more noise at higher ISO and offers less flexibility overall.

In practice, this means:

• Portraits: The G15 renders skin tones with more natural colors and smoother gradations. The faster lens (f/1.8–2.8) also delivers creamier background blur, greatly improving subject isolation.
• Low-light shooting: You can comfortably push the G15 to ISO 800–1600 with decent noise control. The H90 struggles beyond ISO 400.
• Landscape: The G15’s better dynamic range captures highlights and shadows with more detail, essential for landscapes with strong contrast.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

In real-world use, autofocus behavior can make or break your shooting experience - particularly for fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports.

The Canon G15 autofocus system features:

• 9 AF points with contrast-detection
• Face detection enabled
• Continuous and tracking AF modes

Conversely, the Pentax H90 has:

• 9 AF points, contrast-detection only
• No face detection
• Single AF mode, manual focus available

Although neither excels in speed compared to modern mirrorless or DSLR autofocus systems, the G15’s face detection and tracking deliver more reliable focus in challenging scenarios like portraits or moving subjects.

Continuous shooting speed favors Canon as well:

The G15’s faster shutter speeds and modest burst rate offer flexibility for capturing fleeting moments, whereas the H90 is more limited.

Versatility in Creative Controls and Lens Performance

Both cameras utilize fixed lenses with a 28–140mm equivalent zoom. However, the Canon G15 lens has a distinct advantage in aperture:

• Canon G15: f/1.8 at 28mm wide to f/2.8 at telephoto
• Pentax H90: f/3.5 at wide end, closing to f/5.9 at telephoto

This translates to better low-light performance and shallower depth-of-field control on the G15, opening up opportunities for artistic effects like blurred backgrounds in portraits or macro shots.

Speaking of macro, the G15 can focus as close as 1 cm, allowing impressive detail capture for close-ups. The H90’s minimum focusing distance is 10 cm, less ideal for extreme close-ups.

Both cameras include optical image stabilization:

• G15 uses Canon’s optical system integrated in the lens
• H90 uses sensor-shift stabilization

While both reduce blur from hand shake, the G15’s system showed slightly better steadiness in our field tests.

Comprehensive Photography Use Cases

Let’s examine how these cameras perform in specific photography genres to help you find your ideal match.

Portrait Photography

• Canon G15
  • Excellent skin tone rendition thanks to CMOS sensor and Digic 5 processor.
  • Face detection autofocus helps ensure sharp eyes.
  • Wide aperture delivers smooth bokeh, isolating subjects.
• Pentax H90
  • Basic color reproduction; face detection missing.
  • Smaller aperture means less pleasing background blur.
  • Good enough for snapshots but limited creative control.

Landscape Photography

• Canon G15
  • Strong dynamic range captures detail in shadows and highlights.
  • Raw support allows extensive post-processing.
  • Weather sealing is absent but solid build quality.
• Pentax H90
  • Limited dynamic range and noise control at base ISO.
  • JPEG only file format restricts editing.
  • Compactness aids portability but compromises some image quality.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Canon G15
  • Continuous autofocus with tracking is functional for casual action shots.
  • 2 fps burst lets you capture short action sequences.
  • Telephoto f/2.8 aperture brightens focus in dim light.
• Pentax H90
  • Basic autofocus struggles to track fast subjects.
  • Single frame shooting limits fast action capture.
  • Slower lens less effective in dim conditions.

Street Photography

• Canon G15
  • Larger size and weight makes discreet shooting tricky but quick controls help.
  • Bright lens useful in mixed lighting.
• Pentax H90
  • Small, lightweight design allows inconspicuous shooting.
  • Slow lens limits shallow depth-of-field use.

Macro Photography

• Canon G15
  • Extremely close focusing distance (1 cm) for impressive macro detail.
  • Sharp optics and optical stabilization boost results.
• Pentax H90
  • 10 cm minimum focus distance is limiting for tight macro shots.

Night and Astro Photography

• Canon G15
  • High native ISO and long exposure capabilities support night scenes.
  • Max shutter speed 15s suitable for basic astro shots but not ideal for advanced astrophotography.
• Pentax H90
  • Max exposure only 4 seconds - quite limiting for low light.

Video Capabilities

• Canon G15
  • Full HD 1080p at 24 fps with H.264 codec.
  • HDMI out available for external recording or monitoring.
  • No microphone or headphone ports - basic but capable video tool.
• Pentax H90
  • HD 720p max video at 30 fps with Motion JPEG (less efficient codec).
  • No HDMI output or audio in/out ports.

Travel Photography

• Canon G15
  • Balances size, control, and image quality well for travel.
  • Battery life ~350 shots per charge.
  • Robust feature set justifies extra weight.
• Pentax H90
  • Ultra-light and pocketable ideal for scrappy travel snaps.
  • Lighter burden for day-long excursions.
  • Lower image quality compromises souvenir-grade photos.

Professional Workflows

• Canon G15
  • Raw file support integrates well with professional editing pipelines.
  • Reliable manual focus and exposure controls enhance creative flexibility.
• Pentax H90
  • JPEG-only output and limited manual modes reduce professional appeal.

Build Quality, Durability, and Usability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or ruggedized protection, so both require care in harsh conditions. The G15’s denser build translates to a feeling of quality and reliability, while the H90 matches its economy with a more plastic, light feel.

Battery life tips in favor of the G15’s NB-10L rechargeable pack rated for ~350 shots; Pentax’s unspecified D-LI68 battery reportedly performs less, but exact figures are scarce.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras use single SD card slots compatible with SDHC and SDXC cards, providing ample storage flexibility.

Wireless connectivity is limited to Eye-Fi card compatibility for both, allowing basic WiFi file transfer but no native WiFi or Bluetooth controls.

USB 2.0 ports on both allow tethered data transfer, but only the Canon has HDMI output for video monitoring.

Pricing and Value Assessment

At launch, the Canon G15 retailed at about $499, reflecting its advanced feature set. Despite its age, it remains a compelling choice for enthusiasts on a budget who want manual controls and excellent image quality.

The Pentax H90 launched around $150, an entry-level choice today mostly suited for casual users seeking ultra-compact convenience.

Below is a quick comparison table highlighting value aspects:

Sample Images: Real-World Visual Comparison

Here’s a side-by-side gallery showcasing typical JPEG outputs from both cameras under similar conditions.

Canon G15 front Canon G15 screen back Pentax H90 front Pentax H90 screen back

You can observe cleaner details, richer colors, and smoother noise control on the Canon images, especially in low-light scenes and portraits.

Performance Scores and Genre-Specific Ratings

Industry-standard DxOmark data places the Canon G15 as a solid compact performer especially for color depth and dynamic range, enhancing its utility across multiple genres.

We synthesized user reports and benchmark data into these overall performance ratings:

And genre-specific strengths and weaknesses reveal:

Note particularly the Canon G15’s advantages in portrait, landscape, and video, while the Pentax H90 remains basic but adequate for casual snapshots.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Fits Your Creative Journey?

• Choose the Canon PowerShot G15 if:

  • You want a compact with manual controls and RAW shooting for creative flexibility.
  • Portrait, landscape, macro, and low-light photography interest you.
  • You value better optics and image quality in a still portable form factor.
  • Video capture at full HD resolution and decent quality matters.
  • You don’t mind slightly larger size and heft for performance gains.

• Choose the Pentax Optio H90 if:

  • Your budget is limited or you want a simple travel camera.
  • You prioritize portability and lightweight design above all.
  • You mostly shoot in good daylight and want easy automatic shooting.
  • You can live without manual exposure modes or RAW files.

Wrapping Up

After extensive hands-on testing with both cameras across photographic genres and lighting conditions, the Canon G15 clearly stands out as the more capable and versatile device. Its advanced sensor, brighter lens, manual controls, and video features keep it relevant even years after launch. The Pentax H90 is a no-frills compact that fulfills basic snapshot needs well, but lacks the tools for an evolving creative workflow.

We recommend enthusiasts serious about image quality and control opt for the Canon G15 if budget permits. For beginners or those valuing pocket-friendly ease, the H90 remains an option - but with limitations.

To further explore these cameras, check out sample images, handle them personally where possible, and consider which features align most closely with what you want to create.

Thank you for joining our detailed comparison. Stay inspired, experiment, and keep creating - whether with these compacts or your next camera adventure!

Additional Resources and Accessories

• If you choose the Canon G15, consider investing in an ND filter for better low-light and video control, and a compact tripod for sharper shots.
• For the Pentax H90, lightweight cases and screen protectors can extend the camera’s life on travels.

Feel free to reach out with questions or share your shooting experiences with these models. Your journey to better photography begins with informed choices - happy shooting!

Article images used under fair use for educational and review purposes.