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Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
23
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Key Specs

Canon SD990 IS
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-133mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 205g - 98 x 62 x 28mm
  • Launched September 2008
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 980 IS
Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX260 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX280 HS
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Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon SD990 IS versus Canon SX270 HS, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Canon. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SD990 IS (15MP) and SX270 HS (12MP) and the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and SX270 HS (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SD990 IS was announced 5 years prior to the SX270 HS and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SD990 IS being a Ultracompact camera and the Canon SX270 HS being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SD990 IS grades against the SX270 HS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Canon SX270 HS

 SD990 IS SX270 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Canon SD990 IS

 SX270 HS SD990 IS 
LaunchedMarch 2013September 2008Fresher by 54 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Canon SX270 HS

 SD990 IS SX270 HS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SD990 IS features outer measurements of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Canon SX270 HS has proportions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Canon SD990 IS versus Canon SX270 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SD990 IS against the SX270 HS.

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SD990 IS and SX270 HS is 92 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SD990 IS and SX270 HS.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SD990 IS using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Canon SD990 IS will render more detail with its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older SD990 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD990 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX270 HS
37
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no RAW files
34
focusing manually
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD990 IS
Street photography with Canon SX270 HS
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (205g)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX270 HS Sports photography details
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX270 HS as a Travel photography camera
57
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than average (205g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX270 HS as a Landscape photography camera
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no RAW files
41
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX270 HS as a Vlogging camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than average (205 grams)
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Canon SD990 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Canon SX270 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISCanon PowerShot SX270 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Canon PowerShot SX270 HS
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 980 IS -
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-09-17 2013-03-21
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 15 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4416 x 3312 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-133mm (3.7x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/3200s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.60 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 grams (0.45 pounds) 233 grams (0.51 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 life - 210 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release - $284