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Canon S90 vs Sony S2100

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Renewed by Canon S95
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Canon S90 versus Sony S2100, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. The resolution of the S90 (10MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the S90 (1/1.7") and S2100 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The S90 was unveiled 4 months later than the S2100 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the S90 grades vs the S2100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Sony S2100

 S90 S2100 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Canon S90

 S2100 S90 

Common features in the Canon S90 and Sony S2100

 S90 S2100 
LaunchedApril 2010January 2010Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon S90 offers physical 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) whilst the Sony S2100 has measurements of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Canon S90 versus Sony S2100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the S90 compared to the S2100.

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S90 and S2100 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing specs. The photograph here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the S90 and S2100.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S90 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony S2100 will produce more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively.

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S90
Portrait photography with Sony S2100
40
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
20
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon S90 Street photography advice
Sony S2100 Street photography advice
64
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
46
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon S90
Sports photography with Sony S2100
27
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 Travel photography information
Sony S2100 Travel photography information
63
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S90 Landscape photography factors
Sony S2100 Landscape photography factors
52
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
27
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S90 Vlogging info
Sony S2100 Vlogging info
31
pretty wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon S90 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Sony S2100
 Canon PowerShot S90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-04-08 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-105mm (3.8x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.50 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195 grams (0.43 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 185 not tested
Other
Battery model NB-6L 2 x AA
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 Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $599 $0