Clicky

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Canon S90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Newer Model is Canon S95
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LX3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LX7
Photography Glossary

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Canon S90 versus Panasonic LX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the S90 (10MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is very comparable but the S90 (1/1.7") and LX5 (1/1.63") feature totally different sensor measurements.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The S90 was launched 20 months prior to the LX5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the S90 scores against the LX5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

        

Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Panasonic LX5

 S90 LX5 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Canon S90

 LX5 S90 
AnnouncedDecember 2011April 2010More recent by 20 months

Common features in the Canon S90 and Panasonic LX5

 S90 LX5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon S90 has external dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX5 has sizing of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Canon S90 versus Panasonic LX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the S90 versus the LX5.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S90 and LX5 is 92 and 88 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by going through technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the S90 and LX5.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The S90 features the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The older S90 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S90 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography factors
40
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500s)
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
41
manual focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Canon S90 Street photography details
Panasonic LX5 Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/1.7")
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
small sensor (1/1.63")
heavier than others in class (271 grams)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon S90
Sports photography with Panasonic LX5
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
has no phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Canon S90 Travel photography info
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography info
63
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
59
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (271g)
low resolution (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography information
Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography information
52
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
52
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
29
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
heavier than others in class (271 grams)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Canon S90 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Panasonic LX5
 Canon PowerShot S90Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S90 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-04-08 2011-12-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-105mm (3.8x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 4.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 7.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 195 gr (0.43 pounds) 271 gr (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 46 41
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 10.8
DXO Low light rating 185 132
Other
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $294