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Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Announced September 2008
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 980 IS
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
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Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon SD990 IS and Olympus TG-870, both Ultracompact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the SD990 IS (15MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is pretty similar but the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and TG-870 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The SD990 IS was revealed 8 years before the TG-870 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SD990 IS matches up vs the TG-870 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Olympus TG-870

 SD990 IS TG-870 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Canon SD990 IS

 TG-870 SD990 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2016September 2008Newer by 88 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Olympus TG-870

 SD990 IS TG-870 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SD990 IS features physical 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 Olympus TG-870 has sizing of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Canon SD990 IS and Olympus TG-870 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SD990 IS against the TG-870.

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD990 IS and TG-870 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over specifications. The picture here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD990 IS and TG-870.

To sum up, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SD990 IS with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus TG-870 will offer you more detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD990 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Portrait photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography advice
37
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
good MP (15 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have RAW format
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD990 IS
Street photography with Olympus TG-870
54
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition in class (205 grams)
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than average (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Sports photography details
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography details
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (15 megapixels)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
51
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
good battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD990 IS
Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
57
good MP (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
heavier than competition in class (205 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
good battery life (300 shots)
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (21mm)
heavier than average (221g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography highlights
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (15 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have RAW format
50
rather wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
weather proof
good battery life (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Vlogging info
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging info
27
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition in class (205 grams)
32
rather wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
heavier than average (221 grams)
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Canon SD990 IS vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Olympus TG-870
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISOlympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 980 IS -
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Announced 2008-09-17 2016-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VII
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 surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4416 x 3312 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-133mm (3.7x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.60 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 205 gr (0.45 pounds) 221 gr (0.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release - $280