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Canon S90 vs Nikon D4

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Nikon D4 front
Portability
50
Imaging
62
Features
81
Overall
69

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 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
  • Announced April 2010
  • New Model is Canon S95
Nikon D4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 204800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1340g - 160 x 157 x 91mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Old Model is Nikon D3S
  • Newer Model is Nikon D4s
Photography Glossary

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 Overview

Following is a in depth comparison of the Canon S90 versus Nikon D4, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro DSLR by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the S90 (10MP) and D4 (16MP) and the S90 (1/1.7") and D4 (Full frame) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The S90 was launched 21 months prior to the D4 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Canon S90 being a Compact camera and the Nikon D4 being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the S90 grades vs the D4 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Nikon D4

 S90 D4 

Reasons to pick Nikon D4 over the Canon S90

 D4 S90 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2010More modern by 21 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k461kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon S90 and Nikon D4

 S90 D4 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Canon S90 has exterior dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") having a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Nikon D4 has specifications of 160mm x 157mm x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 1340 grams (2.95 lbs).

Examine the Canon S90 versus Nikon D4 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the S90 vs the D4.

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S90 and D4 is 92 and 50 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching technical specs. The picture here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the S90 and D4.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S90 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Nikon D4 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged S90 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S90 Portrait photography info
Nikon D4 Portrait photography info
40
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/500s)
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon S90 as a Street photography camera
Nikon D4 as a Street photography camera
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
56
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon S90 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D4 as a Sports photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
73
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D4 as a Travel photography camera
63
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
59
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography info
Nikon D4 Landscape photography info
52
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse function
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 Vlogging highlights
Nikon D4 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
26
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
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Canon S90 vs Nikon D4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Nikon D4
 Canon PowerShot S90Nikon D4
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot S90 Nikon D4
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro DSLR
Announced 2010-04-08 2012-01-06
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Expeed 3
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Full frame
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 36 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 860.4mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 5:4 and 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3280
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 51
Cross focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Nikon F
Lens focal range 28-105mm (3.8x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 309
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with brightness control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195g (0.43 lb) 1340g (2.95 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 160 x 157 x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 46 89
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 24.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 13.1
DXO Low light score 185 2965
Other
Battery life - 2600 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L EN-EL18
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2-20 seconds, 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card CompactFlash, XQD
Storage slots Single Two
Launch cost $599 $4,500