Canon PowerShot S90 Vs SX270 HS: A Compact Canon Shootout (With a Surprise or Two)

When it comes to compact cameras, Canon has long been a player that blends solid image quality with sensible design. Today, I'm diving deep into a hands-on comparison of two iconic Canon compacts released three years apart: the venerable Canon PowerShot S90 (2010) and the supersized zoom champ, the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS (2013). Having logged hundreds of hours shooting with both, I’m here to guide you through their quirks, strengths, and where each really shines - or falters.

From sensor tech to autofocus speed, video chops to ergonomics, we’re going to dissect these two models front to back, lens to sensor. Curious which compact suits your style? Stick around - whether you’re a casual travel snapper or a semi-pro craving superzoom versatility, I’ll supply the insights seasoned photographers demand.

How Big Do These Canon Compacts Feel in Hand? Size and Ergonomics Compared

First impressions matter, right? Holding a camera can influence your shooting mojo just as much as megapixels or autofocus numbers. The S90 comes in a neat 100x58x31 mm package weighing just 195 g, while the SX270 HS leans a bit chunkier at 106x63x33 mm and 233 g. Not a huge jump, but palpable when you’re busy street shooting.

Both cameras are pocketable for most coats and roomy jackets but expect the SX270 HS’s longer zoom lens and bulkier body to be more noticeable during extended shoots. The S90’s compact footprint and slightly more refined grip deliver better one-handed stability and comfort, especially if you’re the kind who likes shooting free-form without lugging a strap. Plus, its metal body exudes that timeless Canon premium feel.

Flip them over, and you’ll notice the familiar Canon layout with a 3-inch fixed LCD screen on each. However, the S90 offers a slightly simplified control scheme, aesthetically cleaner but with fewer dials.

The SX270 HS is built with travel versatility in mind. Extra zoom demands more overall heft but gives you a long reach without swapping lenses - handy for wildlife or distant street scenes. The S90, meanwhile, holds its own as a neat, unobtrusive companion for everyday shooting.

Sensors Under the Hood: Crop Factor, Resolution & Image Quality

Let’s talk about the real juice - image sensors. The S90 sports a 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm, covering approximately 41.52 mm². The SX270 HS features a smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor at 6.17 x 4.55 mm, or around 28.07 mm².

Why size matters: Larger sensors generally capture more light with less noise and better dynamic range. The S90’s sensor, despite its age, is bigger and often yields richer color depth (reported DxO score for color depth is 20.2 bits) and superior dynamic range (11.0 EV). It also embraces raw capture, allowing much more post-processing flexibility - a boon for serious photographers.

The SX270 HS ups the ante in resolution, offering 12 MP versus 10 MP on the S90, but that bump in megapixels comes with a trade-off of a physically smaller sensor area per pixel, often translating to higher noise at elevated ISOs.

In practical terms, expect crisp detail and cleaner skin tones from the S90 in daylight or controlled lighting, while the SX270 HS suits scenarios demanding reach more than edge-to-edge sharpness or exquisite dynamic range.

Navigating the User Interface: Screens and Live View Experience

With neither camera sporting an electronic viewfinder (classic compact sacrifice), the rear LCD screens are your window to compositional bliss.

Both LCDs measure 3 inches diagonally and share a resolution of 461k dots - a standard for the period, delivering fairly sharp previews but lagging behind modern OLED or touch-capacitive models. Neither is touchscreen, a feature that’s become a modest expectation even in compacts.

During real-world testing, both screens respond decently in varied lighting, but I found the S90’s display slightly easier to read under bright sun, likely thanks to its screen coating and the camera's exposure metering balance.

The SX270 HS lacks live view autofocus on the rear screen, requiring a half-press of the shutter button to focus, which steals a bit of spontaneity, especially for quick street shots. The S90 offers live view contrast detection autofocus, delivering a steadier experience with manual focus support.

Lens and Zoom: Range and Aperture Comparisons For Every Scenario

Here’s where the cameras split philosophies cleanly: the S90 packs a fast 28-105 mm (35mm equivalent) zoom with a bright aperture range of f/2.0-4.9, while the SX270 HS features a mammoth 25-500 mm (20x optical zoom) - but at a slower f/3.5-6.8.

For portrait lovers craving buttery bokeh and shooting in lower light, the S90’s wider aperture comes as a breath of fresh air. The faster lens delivers better subject separation and smoother backgrounds, critical for flattering skin tones and separating your subject from clutter. The SX270 HS’ long zoom is spectacular for wildlife or distant cityscapes but struggles to produce shallow depth of field, rendering backgrounds busier.

Both cameras support macro shooting down to 5 cm, but you’ll get more satisfying results on the S90 thanks to its dedicated macro mode with mindful focussing.

Autofocus and Speed: Who Reacts Faster When the Moment Calls?

Next, autofocus - crucial for sports, wildlife, and street photographers who need that split-second precision.

The S90 uses a 9-point contrast detect autofocus system without face detection or continuous tracking - typical of its generation. The SX270 HS upgrades to continuous AF tracking with face detection, making it faster and more reliable in dynamic scenarios.

Continuous shooting also favors the SX270 HS with a 4 fps burst rate, doubling the S90’s 1 fps - a significant advantage when snapping action sequences, like kids at play or a soccer match.

Though I found the S90 to lock focus accurately for static subjects, it often lags on moving targets, frustratingly so in low light. The SX270 HS’ AF tracking salvages many such moment, but its slower lens aperture means its AF struggles in dim conditions.

Build and Weather Sealing: Reliability in the Field

Neither camera is weather sealed, shockproof, or purpose-built for brutal environments, so if you’re expecting to shoot in pouring rain or dusty deserts, I’d recommend investing in protective gear regardless.

Build quality does differ slightly. The S90 employs a more metal-heavy construction, lending it a sturdier, more premium tactile feel. The SX270 HS leans towards more plastic construction to shave weight, reflecting its design for casual travel users prioritizing zoom versatility over ruggedness.

Battery Life and Storage: The Endurance and Capacity Question

Battery life is a critical consideration for travel and professional applications.

The SX270 HS offers officially rated ~210 shots per charge with its NB-6L battery - a modest improvement over the S90 whose quoted battery life isn't officially tallied but generally hovers around 200 shots per charge in practice.

Both cameras rely on SD/SDHC cards with one storage slot each - standard but limiting if you shoot large volumes or raw files.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Stills

Here’s an area where the SX270 HS flexes its muscles. It offers full HD 1080p recording at 60 fps, alongside slow-motion options at 120 fps (VGA), using MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs. The S90’s video stops at VGA 640x480 resolution at 30 fps - a relic by today’s standards.

Neither camera sports microphone or headphone jacks, so expect reliance on built-in mono audio, which is adequate for casual clips but won’t deliver professional sound quality.

How Do These Cameras Perform Across Photography Genres?

Now, let’s get niche. I tested these cameras across ten popular photography explorations to reveal their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick digest with ratings to guide your choice:

Canon S90 screen back Canon SX270 HS front Canon SX270 HS screen back

Portrait Photography

• S90: Wins for smooth skin tones thanks to bigger sensor and fast lens aperture, though without face-detection AF, you’ll need to nail focus manually.
• SX270 HS: Face-detect AF helps, but slower lens affects background blur quality.

Landscape Photography

• S90: Higher dynamic range and larger sensor deliver better shadow and highlight retention.
• SX270 HS: Higher megapixels at play, but smaller sensor and slower lens somewhat limit ultimate image quality.

Wildlife Photography

• SX270 HS: Huge zoom and continuous AF make it superior for capturing animals from afar.
• S90: Lens falls short in reach; autofocus can’t keep pace with movement.

Sports Photography

• SX270 HS: Faster burst and AF tracking bolster chances of getting the shot.
• S90: Slow continuous shooting and lack of tracking hinder action capture.

Street Photography

• S90: Smaller size, quieter operation, and faster lens make it more discreet and agile.
• SX270 HS: Slightly bulkier and noisy zoom lens may attract unwanted attention.

Macro Photography

• S90: Excellent with close focusing at 5 cm and better manual focus control.
• SX270 HS: Similar minimum focus distance but less precise manual focus feel.

Night/Astro Photography

• S90: Superior noise handling thanks to sensor and ISO ceiling at 3200.
• SX270 HS: Higher max ISO of 6400 but suffers from significant noise above 800 ISO.

Video

• SX270 HS: Clear winner here with HD resolutions and higher frame rates.
• S90: Only VGA video, mostly suitable for casual use.

Travel Photography

• SX270 HS: Versatile zoom range suits diverse scenarios.
• S90: Smaller size and image quality favor delicate travel documentation.

Professional Work

• S90: RAW support and manual controls make it handy as a backup or lightweight alternative.
• SX270 HS: No RAW, slower lens - less suited for pro workflows.

Final Thoughts: Which Canon Compact Should You Buy?

This is where personal preference, use case, and budgetary constraints meet reality.

If image quality, low-light performance, and manual control are paramount to your style - especially if you’re a portrait, night, or landscapes enthusiast - the Canon PowerShot S90 remains a surprisingly nimble and capable choice despite its age. Its RAW support and faster lens aperture lend it a creative edge even today.

However, if you crave an all-in-one superzoom travel camera for casual photography, wildlife, or action shots on a budget, the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS delivers remarkable reach, stronger autofocus tracking, and modern HD video features that the S90 cannot match.

At current pricing, the S90 skews more expensive due to vintage appeal and image quality virtue, while the SX270 HS offers bang-for-buck versatility. Pair your selection with your most frequent shooting scenarios, and you'll enjoy a trusty compact that shines in your hands.

Behind the Lens: Testing Methodology and Why It Matters

Before we wrap, a quick note on how I tested these cameras - a strength of this review’s credibility. Over the years, I’ve developed a standardized workflow that includes:

• Controlled lab testing for sensor performance (color depth, dynamic range, low-light ISO)
• Real-world shooting in diverse lighting and subjects (indoors, outdoors, movement-heavy scenarios)
• Ergonomics and usability assessment under prolonged use
• Comparative image and video output analysis on calibrated monitors
• Workflow compatibility tests including file format handling and editing ease

This multifaceted approach ensures my recommendations reflect actual user experiences, not just spec sheet numbers.

If you’re sticking mainly to the canon compacts sandbox, these two cameras offer distinctly different strengths embodied in their designs and tech generations. Whether prioritizing sharp natural images or zoom-powered flexibility, your next Canon compact adventure awaits - and now, you’re truly equipped to make the call.

Happy shooting!