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Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 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
  • Refreshed by Canon S95
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Canon S90 and Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the S90 (10MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the S90 (1/1.7") and SZ3 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The S90 was revealed 3 years prior to the SZ3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the S90 scores vs the SZ3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Panasonic SZ3

 S90 SZ3 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Canon S90

 SZ3 S90 
IntroducedJanuary 2013April 2010Newer by 33 months

Common features in the Canon S90 and Panasonic SZ3

 S90 SZ3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon S90 comes with outer dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") with a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Canon S90 and Panasonic SZ3 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 change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the S90 against the SZ3.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S90 and SZ3 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The picture here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S90 and SZ3.

To sum up, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The S90 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic SZ3 will render more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged S90 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S90 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
40
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
saves RAW files
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
30
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S90 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography factors
64
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S90 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
27
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography factors
63
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography highlights
52
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse mode
39
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging information
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
missing microphone port
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon S90 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Panasonic SZ3
 Canon PowerShot S90Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot S90 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-04-08 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-105mm (3.8x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 4.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 195 gr (0.43 pounds) 126 gr (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 life - 250 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $599 $150