Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S02

Its time to look a little more closely at the Canon SD990 IS versus Nikon S02, both Ultracompact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SD990 IS (15MP) and the S02 (13MP) is fairly well matched but the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and S02 (1/3") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SD990 IS was announced 6 years before the S02 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SD990 IS scores versus the S02 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SD990 IS and Nikon Coolpix S02. The whole galleries are available at Canon SD990 IS Gallery and Nikon S02 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SD990 IS has got external measurements of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Nikon S02 has measurements of 77mm x 51mm x 18mm (3.0" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 100 grams (0.22 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD990 IS versus Nikon S02 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SD990 IS versus the S02.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD990 IS and S02 is 92 and 97 respectively.

Normally, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD990 IS and S02.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SD990 IS having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Canon SD990 IS will give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD990 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.