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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
43
Features
43
Overall
43

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 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
  • Announced September 2008
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 980 IS
Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Canon SD990 IS and Sony TX30, both Ultracompact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SD990 IS (15MP) and the TX30 (18MP) is relatively similar but the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and TX30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The SD990 IS was released 5 years before the TX30 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the SD990 IS scores vs the TX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Sony TX30

 SD990 IS TX30 

Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Canon SD990 IS

 TX30 SD990 IS 
IntroducedJuly 2013September 2008Fresher by 59 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen size3.3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.8")
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Sony TX30

 SD990 IS TX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SD990 IS offers outside measurements of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Sony TX30 has proportions of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD990 IS and Sony TX30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SD990 IS and the TX30.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD990 IS and TX30 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The photograph below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD990 IS and TX30.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SD990 IS due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony TX30 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older SD990 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD990 IS
Portrait photography with Sony TX30
37
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have RAW format
39
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony TX30 as a Street photography camera
54
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average in class (205g)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD990 IS
Sports photography with Sony TX30
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony TX30 Travel photography highlights
57
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than average in class (205 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
environment proofing
megapixel count good (18MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD990 IS
Landscape photography with Sony TX30
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no manual control
very small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have RAW format
51
has manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3.3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Vlogging info
Sony TX30 Vlogging info
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (205g)
34
quite wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony TX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Sony TX30
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 980 IS -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Announced 2008-09-17 2013-07-26
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4416 x 3312 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-133mm (3.7x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.5-4.8
Macro focus range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3.3"
Display resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 grams (0.45 pounds) 141 grams (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card -
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost - $230