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Canon S90 vs Sony WX5

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Updated by Canon S95
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Canon S90 vs Sony WX5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S90 (10MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is very similar but the S90 (1/1.7") and WX5 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The S90 was manufactured 3 months earlier than the WX5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short summation of how the S90 scores vs the WX5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon S90 over the Sony WX5

 S90 WX5 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Canon S90

 WX5 S90 

Common features in the Canon S90 and Sony WX5

 S90 WX5 
IntroducedApril 2010July 2010Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution461k461kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account 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) while the Sony WX5 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the S90 against the WX5.

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S90 and WX5 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the S90 and WX5.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S90 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony WX5 will offer extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively.

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S90 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX5 Portrait photography factors
40
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S90
Street photography with Sony WX5
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/1.7")
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S90 Sports photography advice
Sony WX5 Sports photography advice
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
34
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S90 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Travel photography camera
63
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
58
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon S90
Landscape photography with Sony WX5
52
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no Timelapse function
37
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (2.8 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
no manual control
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S90
Vlogging with Sony WX5
31
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone socket
32
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing mic port
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Canon S90 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S90 and Sony WX5
 Canon PowerShot S90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-04-08 2010-07-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-105mm (3.8x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.8"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.43 pounds) 146 grams (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 ID NB-6L NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $250