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Canon S100 vs Pentax W90

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
48
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot S100 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Canon S100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 198g - 99 x 60 x 28mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Older Model is Canon S95
  • Renewed by Canon S110
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed February 2010
Photography Glossary

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Canon S100 versus Pentax W90, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the S100 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the S100 (1/1.7") and W90 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The S100 was manufactured 23 months after the W90 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the S100 scores against the W90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Pentax W90

 S100 W90 
RevealedDecember 2011February 2010Newer by 23 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Canon S100

 W90 S100 

Common features in the Canon S100 and Pentax W90

 S100 W90 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon S100 offers outside dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check out the Canon S100 versus Pentax W90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the S100 versus the W90.

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S100 and W90 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through a spec sheet. The pic below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the S100 and W90.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide the same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The S100 features the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The younger S100 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S100 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Portrait photography camera
44
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon S100 Street photography advice
Pentax W90 Street photography advice
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
54
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S100 Sports photography details
Pentax W90 Sports photography details
32
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
not so great battery (200 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
24
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S100 Travel photography advice
Pentax W90 Travel photography advice
61
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
environment proof
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
MP count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon S100
Landscape photography with Pentax W90
50
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
37
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 Vlogging details
Pentax W90 Vlogging details
36
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
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Canon S100 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S100 and Pentax W90
 Canon PowerShot S100Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot S100 Pentax Optio W90
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2011-12-22 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest 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 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 grams (0.44 lb) 164 grams (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-5L D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $429 $120