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Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90

Portability
86
Imaging
39
Features
45
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX150 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX170 IS
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Canon SX160 IS and Pentax H90, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and H90 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was announced 3 years after the H90 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SX160 IS grades against the H90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Pentax H90

 SX160 IS H90 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2010More modern by 42 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Canon SX160 IS

 H90 SX160 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Pentax H90

 SX160 IS H90 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX160 IS comes with outer dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Pentax H90 has specifications of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Canon SX160 IS and Pentax H90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SX160 IS versus the H90.

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and H90 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The pic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX160 IS and H90.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Canon SX160 IS to give extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more recent SX160 IS should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX160 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax H90
46
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Street photography info
Pentax H90 Street photography info
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (291 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax H90 as a Sports photography camera
50
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography info
Pentax H90 Travel photography info
68
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lighter than average (291g)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very long zoom (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX160 IS
Landscape photography with Pentax H90
51
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
36
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Vlogging factors
Pentax H90 Vlogging factors
31
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than average (291g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
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Canon SX160 IS vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Pentax H90
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISPentax Optio H90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Pentax Optio H90
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 291 gr (0.64 lb) 153 gr (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 life 380 photographs -
Battery form AA -
Battery ID 2 x AA D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $199 $150