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Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
48
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot S100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Key Specs

Canon S100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 198g - 99 x 60 x 28mm
  • Introduced December 2011
  • Older Model is Canon S95
  • Refreshed by Canon S110
Panasonic FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced August 2011
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Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

Here is a extensive comparison of the Canon S100 and Panasonic FX90, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the S100 (12MP) and the FX90 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the S100 (1/1.7") and FX90 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The S100 was released 4 months later than the FX90 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the S100 scores against the FX90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Panasonic FX90

 S100 FX90 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Canon S100

 FX90 S100 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon S100 and Panasonic FX90

 S100 FX90 
AnnouncedDecember 2011August 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon S100 features external dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Panasonic FX90 has dimensions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Canon S100 and Panasonic FX90 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the S100 against the FX90.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the S100 and FX90 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The photograph below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S100 and FX90.

Plainly, each of the cameras offer the same exact resolution but different sensor sizing. The S100 comes with the larger sensor which should make achieving bokeh easier.

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S100
Portrait photography with Panasonic FX90
44
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon S100 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/1.7")
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon S100
Sports photography with Panasonic FX90
32
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S100 Travel photography features
Panasonic FX90 Travel photography features
61
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
60
offers focus via touch
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S100 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FX90 Landscape photography advice
50
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
36
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 Vlogging information
Panasonic FX90 Vlogging information
36
really wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone jack
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
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Canon S100 vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S100 and Panasonic FX90
 Canon PowerShot S100Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-12-22 2011-08-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 5.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 grams (0.44 lb) 149 grams (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 153 not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 200 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $429 $227