Canon SD990 IS vs Sony NEX-5R

The following is a in-depth review of the Canon SD990 IS vs Sony NEX-5R, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SD990 IS (15MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is relatively similar but the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and NEX-5R (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SD990 IS was released 5 years prior to the NEX-5R which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SD990 IS being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SD990 IS grades vs the NEX-5R in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SD990 IS & Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SD990 IS Gallery & Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SD990 IS provides external measurements of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5R has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Canon SD990 IS vs Sony NEX-5R in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SD990 IS vs the NEX-5R.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD990 IS and NEX-5R is 92 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD990 IS and NEX-5R.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SD990 IS because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-5R will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged SD990 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.