Clicky

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Launched November 2013
  • Replaced the Canon S110
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
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Canon S120 vs Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the S120 (1/1.7") and W90 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The S120 was released 3 years later than the W90 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the S120 grades vs the W90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Pentax W90

 S120 W90 
IntroducedNovember 2013February 2010Fresher by 46 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Canon S120

 W90 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Pentax W90

 S120 W90 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon S120 has outer dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax W90 has sizing of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the S120 against the W90.

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and W90 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the S120 and W90.

All in all, both cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor sizing. The S120 provides the larger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF simpler. The more modern S120 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography information
Pentax W90 Portrait photography information
42
manual focus
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography info
Pentax W90 Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
provides focus by touch
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (217g)
54
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon S120
Sports photography with Pentax W90
38
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
24
weather sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography features
Pentax W90 Travel photography features
67
provides focus by touch
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition in class (217g)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
64
weather sealing
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Landscape photography camera
57
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
37
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging highlights
Pentax W90 Vlogging highlights
35
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (217g)
25
quite wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon S120 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Pentax W90
 Canon PowerShot S120Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Pentax Optio W90
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2013-11-26 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE 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) 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 MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217 grams (0.48 lbs) 164 grams (0.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $449 $120