Canon S90 vs Sony W550

Below is a complete overview of the Canon S90 vs Sony W550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the S90 (10MP) and W550 (14MP) and the S90 (1/1.7") and W550 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The S90 was introduced 15 months prior to the W550 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon S90 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the S90 matches up against the W550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot S90 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon S90 Gallery and Sony W550 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Canon S90 features 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) while the Sony W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Examine the Canon S90 vs Sony W550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the S90 and the W550.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S90 and W550 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out specifications. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the S90 and W550.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S90 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony W550 will provide extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The older S90 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.