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Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Key Specs

Canon S90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-105mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 195g - 100 x 58 x 31mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Updated by Canon S95
Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX150 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX170 IS
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Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Canon S90 versus Canon SX160 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Canon. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the S90 (10MP) and SX160 IS (16MP) and the S90 (1/1.7") and SX160 IS (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The S90 was launched 4 years prior to the SX160 IS which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the S90 scores against the SX160 IS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Canon SX160 IS

 S90 SX160 IS 
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon S90

 SX160 IS S90 
ReleasedJune 2013April 2010Newer by 39 months

Common features in the Canon S90 and Canon SX160 IS

 S90 SX160 IS 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon S90 provides physical measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") along with a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Canon SX160 IS has sizing of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") with a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs).

See the Canon S90 versus Canon SX160 IS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the S90 compared to the SX160 IS.

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S90 and SX160 IS is 92 and 86 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the S90 and SX160 IS.

As you can see, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S90 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Canon SX160 IS will produce more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged S90 will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S90 Portrait photography highlights
Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography highlights
40
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
46
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S90
Street photography with Canon SX160 IS
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon S90 Sports photography advice
Canon SX160 IS Sports photography advice
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 Travel photography details
Canon SX160 IS Travel photography details
63
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography features
Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography features
52
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
51
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 Vlogging details
Canon SX160 IS Vlogging details
31
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (291g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Canon S90 vs Canon SX160 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Canon SX160 IS
 Canon PowerShot S90Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot S90 Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-04-08 2013-06-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-105mm (3.8x) 28-448mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 195 grams (0.43 pounds) 291 grams (0.64 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 185 not tested
Other
Battery life - 380 photos
Battery style - AA
Battery ID NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $599 $199