Clicky

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Key Specs

Canon SD960 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 145g - 98 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 110 IS
Canon SD990 IS
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-133mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 205g - 98 x 62 x 28mm
  • Revealed September 2008
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 980 IS
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Overview

Below, we are looking at the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SD990 IS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Canon. The image resolution of the SD960 IS (12MP) and the SD990 IS (15MP) is fairly close but the SD960 IS (1/2.3") and SD990 IS (1/1.7") use totally different sensor sizing.

TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

The SD960 IS was revealed 6 months later than the SD990 IS which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SD960 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SD990 IS being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SD960 IS matches up versus the SD990 IS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SD960 IS over the Canon SD990 IS

 SD960 IS SD990 IS 
Display dimension2.8"2.5"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Canon SD960 IS

 SD990 IS SD960 IS 

Common features in the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SD990 IS

 SD960 IS SD990 IS 
RevealedFebruary 2009September 2008Same generation
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD960 IS features outer measurements of 98mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Canon SD990 IS has dimensions of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SD990 IS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the SD960 IS compared to the SD990 IS.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD960 IS and SD990 IS is 95 and 92 respectively.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD960 IS and SD990 IS.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SD960 IS with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Canon SD990 IS will render greater detail because of its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images much more aggressively.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Portrait photography factors
Canon SD990 IS Portrait photography factors
26
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
37
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
good megapixels (15MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no RAW files
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD960 IS
Street photography with Canon SD990 IS
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no RAW files
more heavy than competition (205 grams)
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Sports Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Sports photography information
Canon SD990 IS Sports photography information
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Travel Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SD990 IS as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
more heavy than competition (205g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD960 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SD990 IS
37
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (2.8 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no RAW files
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Vlogging details
Canon SD990 IS Vlogging details
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competition (205g)
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SD990 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD960 IS and Canon SD990 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD960 ISCanon PowerShot SD990 IS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
Also Known as Digital IXUS 110 IS Digital IXUS 980 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2009-02-18 2008-09-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4416 x 3312
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 36-133mm (3.7x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 2cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.8 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (tunnel)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/500 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 145 gr (0.32 pounds) 205 gr (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 54 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model NB-4L NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1