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Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
23
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
26
Overall
30

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 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
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 980 IS
Nikon S70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.8) lens
  • 160g - 97 x 61 x 20mm
  • Revealed August 2009
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Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 Overview

Below is a complete overview of the Canon SD990 IS and Nikon S70, both Ultracompact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the SD990 IS (15MP) and S70 (12MP) and the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and S70 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The SD990 IS was launched 10 months prior to the S70 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SD990 IS scores versus the S70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Nikon S70

 SD990 IS S70 

Reasons to pick Nikon S70 over the Canon SD990 IS

 S70 SD990 IS 
RevealedAugust 2009September 2008More recent by 10 months
Display dimension3.5"2.5"Larger display (+1")
Display resolution288k230kSharper display (+58k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Nikon S70

 SD990 IS S70 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Canon SD990 IS has outside measurements of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Nikon S70 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") along with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD990 IS and Nikon S70 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SD990 IS compared to the S70.

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD990 IS and S70 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD990 IS and S70.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SD990 IS featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Canon SD990 IS will provide more detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older SD990 IS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Portrait photography features
Nikon S70 Portrait photography features
37
high flash sync (1/500s)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no RAW support
20
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Street photography details
Nikon S70 Street photography details
54
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competition (205 grams)
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competitors (160 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Sports photography factors
Nikon S70 Sports photography factors
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
33
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S70 as a Travel photography camera
57
decent MP (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than competition (205g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
56
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (160 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Landscape photography information
Nikon S70 Landscape photography information
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no RAW support
36
rather wide (28mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD990 IS
Vlogging with Nikon S70
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competition (205g)
29
rather wide (28mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
more heavy than competitors (160 grams)
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Canon SD990 IS vs Nikon S70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Nikon S70
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISNikon Coolpix S70
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Nikon Coolpix S70
Also Known as Digital IXUS 980 IS -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Launched 2008-09-17 2009-08-04
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4416 x 3312 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-133mm (3.7x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.9-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 288 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 grams (0.45 lbs) 160 grams (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 97 x 61 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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-5L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing - $290