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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Pentax X90 front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Revealed August 2009
Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Canon SX120 IS versus Pentax X90, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the X90 (12MP) is very close but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and X90 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The SX120 IS was released 10 months earlier than the X90 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX120 IS being a Compact camera and the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SX120 IS scores against the X90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Pentax X90

 SX120 IS X90 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Canon SX120 IS

 X90 SX120 IS 
IntroducedJuly 2010August 2009Fresher by 10 months

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Pentax X90

 SX120 IS X90 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX120 IS provides outer measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") with a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Pentax X90 has specifications of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") along with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX120 IS versus Pentax X90 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX120 IS versus the X90.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX120 IS and X90 is 87 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing only by researching technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX120 IS and X90.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SX120 IS featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax X90 will provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older SX120 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX120 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax X90
33
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
external flash not possible
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
29
focusing manually
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX120 IS
Street photography with Pentax X90
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition (285g)
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography features
Pentax X90 Sports photography features
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no phase detect AF
42
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography details
Pentax X90 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
great zoom (360mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (285 grams)
low resolution (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
51
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax X90 Landscape photography highlights
36
manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
35
focusing manually
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax X90 as a Vlogging camera
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic jack
heavier than competition (285g)
23
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax X90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Pentax X90
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPentax X90
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Pentax X90
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-08-19 2010-07-06
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 9.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285g (0.63 lbs) 428g (0.94 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 2 x AA D-L106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $249 $350