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Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Samsung SL720 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Key Specs

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
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 980 IS
Samsung SL720
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 168g - 92 x 61 x 23mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Alternative Name is PL70
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Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Canon SD990 IS versus Samsung SL720, both Ultracompact digital cameras by competitors Canon and Samsung. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the SD990 IS (15MP) and SL720 (12MP) and the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and SL720 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SD990 IS was launched 10 months earlier than the SL720 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SD990 IS scores against the SL720 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Samsung SL720

 SD990 IS SL720 

Reasons to pick Samsung SL720 over the Canon SD990 IS

 SL720 SD990 IS 
RevealedJuly 2009September 2008More modern by 10 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Samsung SL720

 SD990 IS SL720 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SD990 IS has got physical dimensions of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Samsung SL720 has measurements of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon SD990 IS versus Samsung SL720 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SD990 IS against the SL720.

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SD990 IS and SL720 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD990 IS and SL720.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SD990 IS due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Canon SD990 IS will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged SD990 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung SL720 as a Portrait photography camera
37
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have RAW format
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Street photography features
Samsung SL720 Street photography features
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have RAW format
heavier than others (205 grams)
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competition (168g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Sports photography advice
Samsung SL720 Sports photography advice
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Travel photography details
Samsung SL720 Travel photography details
57
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
built-in flash
heavier than others (205g)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (168 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Landscape photography advice
Samsung SL720 Landscape photography advice
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have RAW format
27
relatively wide (28mm)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Vlogging info
Samsung SL720 Vlogging info
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others (205g)
25
relatively wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competition (168 grams)
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Canon SD990 IS vs Samsung SL720 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Samsung SL720
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISSamsung SL720
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Samsung
Model type Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Samsung SL720
Also Known as Digital IXUS 980 IS PL70
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2008-09-17 2009-07-14
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4416 x 3312 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-133mm (3.7x) 28-102mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.60 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max 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) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 205 grams (0.45 lb) 168 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 92 x 61 x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 ID NB-5L SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release - $119