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Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Superseded the Canon S110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
  • Launched August 2011
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the FX90 (12MP) is very close but the S120 (1/1.7") and FX90 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The S120 was introduced 2 years later than the FX90 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the S120 matches up against the FX90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Panasonic FX90

 S120 FX90 
LaunchedNovember 2013August 2011Fresher by 28 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Canon S120

 FX90 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Panasonic FX90

 S120 FX90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon S120 comes with external measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Panasonic FX90 has proportions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Compare the Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the S120 and the FX90.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S120 and FX90 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S120 and FX90.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses the exact same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The S120 includes the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The fresher S120 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FX90 Portrait photography info
42
you can focus manually
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S120
Street photography with Panasonic FX90
65
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
has touch to focus
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than others (217g)
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography info
Panasonic FX90 Sports photography info
39
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FX90 Travel photography advice
67
has touch to focus
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
heavier than others (217 grams)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
includes touch to focus
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (200 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FX90 Landscape photography info
57
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
36
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery power (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FX90 Vlogging advice
35
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
heavier than others (217 grams)
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
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Canon S120 vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Panasonic FX90
 Canon PowerShot S120Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-11-26 2011-08-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 922k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.90 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 gr (0.48 lb) 149 gr (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 shots 200 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $449 $227