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Canon S90 vs Nikon L20

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Key Specs

Canon S90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-105mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 195g - 100 x 58 x 31mm
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Successor is Canon S95
Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Released February 2009
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Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Canon S90 versus Nikon L20, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the S90 (10MP) and the L20 (10MP) is fairly close but the S90 (1/1.7") and L20 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The S90 was released 15 months later than the L20 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the S90 grades vs the L20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Nikon L20

 S90 L20 
ReleasedApril 2010February 2009More recent by 15 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Canon S90

 L20 S90 

Common features in the Canon S90 and Nikon L20

 S90 L20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon S90 enjoys outer measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") with a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Nikon L20 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check out the Canon S90 versus Nikon L20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the S90 against the L20.

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S90 and L20 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S90 and L20.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with the identical resolution but different sensor measurements. The S90 offers the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh simpler. The fresher S90 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S90
Portrait photography with Nikon L20
40
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon S90 Street photography factors
Nikon L20 Street photography factors
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/1.7")
54
lighter than others in class (135g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S90 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L20 as a Sports photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
16
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 Travel photography features
Nikon L20 Travel photography features
63
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
55
lighter than others in class (135g)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography details
Nikon L20 Landscape photography details
52
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse recording
27
screen size is decent (3 inch)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 Vlogging advice
Nikon L20 Vlogging advice
31
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone support
24
lighter than others in class (135g)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
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Canon S90 vs Nikon L20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Nikon L20
 Canon PowerShot S90Nikon Coolpix L20
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot S90 Nikon Coolpix L20
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-04-08 2009-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-105mm (3.8x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195g (0.43 lbs) 135g (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 185 not tested
Other
Battery model NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $599 $120