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Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 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
  • Released April 2010
  • Refreshed by Canon S95
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the S90 (10MP) and FH20 (14MP) and the S90 (1/1.7") and FH20 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The S90 was released 4 months after the FH20 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the S90 grades versus the FH20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Panasonic FH20

 S90 FH20 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Canon S90

 FH20 S90 

Common features in the Canon S90 and Panasonic FH20

 S90 FH20 
AnnouncedApril 2010January 2010Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon S90 offers 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) and the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the S90 and the FH20.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the S90 and FH20 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by going over specs. The pic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the S90 and FH20.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S90 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH20 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S90 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography information
40
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
28
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon S90 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/1.7")
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon S90
Sports photography with Panasonic FH20
27
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 Travel photography information
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography information
63
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse recording
37
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
28
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Canon S90 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Panasonic FH20
 Canon PowerShot S90Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S90 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-04-08 2010-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-105mm (3.8x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 195 grams (0.43 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $599 $179