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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 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
  • Introduced September 2008
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 980 IS
Sony W380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 117g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Canon SD990 IS and Sony W380, both Ultracompact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SD990 IS (15MP) and the W380 (14MP) is pretty close but the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and W380 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The SD990 IS was manufactured 15 months earlier than the W380 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the SD990 IS matches up against the W380 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Sony W380

 SD990 IS W380 

Reasons to pick Sony W380 over the Canon SD990 IS

 W380 SD990 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010September 2008More modern by 15 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Sony W380

 SD990 IS W380 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SD990 IS provides exterior 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 W380 has sizing of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Canon SD990 IS and Sony W380 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the SD990 IS vs the W380.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD990 IS and W380 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The image below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD990 IS and W380.

To sum up, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SD990 IS because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Canon SD990 IS will render more detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged SD990 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony W380 Portrait photography factors
37
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of RAW support
28
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Street photography factors
Sony W380 Street photography factors
54
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (205g)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Sports photography factors
Sony W380 Sports photography factors
35
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Travel photography info
Sony W380 Travel photography info
57
megapixel count decent (15MP)
built-in flash
more heavy than competition in class (205 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
65
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD990 IS
Landscape photography with Sony W380
34
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of RAW support
37
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Vlogging details
Sony W380 Vlogging details
27
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (205 grams)
29
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony W380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Sony W380
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W380
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 980 IS -
Category Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2008-09-17 2010-01-07
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4416 x 3312 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-133mm (3.7x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.60 m 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 lbs) 117 grams (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing - $44