Canon S90 vs Olympus E-P1

Below is a in depth comparison of the Canon S90 and Olympus E-P1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the S90 (10MP) and the E-P1 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the S90 (1/1.7") and E-P1 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The S90 was unveiled 9 months later than the E-P1 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon S90 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the S90 matches up against the E-P1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot S90 and Olympus PEN E-P1. The full galleries are provided at Canon S90 Gallery and Olympus E-P1 Gallery.

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon S90 features external measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Olympus E-P1 has measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Examine the Canon S90 and Olympus E-P1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the S90 vs the E-P1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S90 and E-P1 is 92 and 86 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The visual here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S90 and E-P1.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S90 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-P1 will give extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The fresher S90 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.