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Canon G15 vs Pentax W90

Portability
86
Imaging
36
Features
58
Overall
44
Canon PowerShot G15 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Canon G15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 352g - 107 x 76 x 40mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Previous Model is Canon G12
  • Successor is Canon G16
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
  • Introduced February 2010
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Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Canon G15 and Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the G15 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is very similar but the G15 (1/1.7") and W90 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The G15 was released 2 years later than the W90 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the G15 grades vs the W90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Pentax W90

 G15 W90 
IntroducedSeptember 2012February 2010Fresher by 32 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Canon G15

 W90 G15 

Common features in the Canon G15 and Pentax W90

 G15 W90 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon G15 features outer dimensions of 107mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Pentax W90 has sizing of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Contrast the Canon G15 and Pentax W90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the G15 against the W90.

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the G15 and W90 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the G15 and W90.

To sum up, the two cameras posses the exact same MP but not the same sensor sizing. The G15 uses the larger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The more modern G15 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G15 Portrait photography information
Pentax W90 Portrait photography information
48
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon G15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Street photography camera
58
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (352g)
54
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G15
Sports photography with Pentax W90
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery power (350 CIPA)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
24
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G15 Travel photography factors
Pentax W90 Travel photography factors
61
great battery power (350 shots)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (352 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
64
weather sealing
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G15 Landscape photography info
Pentax W90 Landscape photography info
54
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
great battery power (350 shots)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
36
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax W90 as a Vlogging camera
33
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (352 grams)
25
pretty wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
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Canon G15 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G15 and Pentax W90
 Canon PowerShot G15Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot G15 Pentax Optio W90
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2012-09-17 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5 Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT PureColor II G LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 352 grams (0.78 lbs) 164 grams (0.36 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 76 x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 165 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-10L D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $499 $120