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Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released January 2010
Photography Glossary

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Canon SX170 IS versus Pentax E90, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and E90 (10MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was revealed 3 years after the E90 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SX170 IS grades versus the E90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Pentax E90

 SX170 IS E90 
ReleasedAugust 2013January 2010More modern by 44 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Canon SX170 IS

 E90 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Pentax E90

 SX170 IS E90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS provides outside measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax E90 has sizing of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX170 IS versus Pentax E90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX170 IS vs the E90.

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and E90 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The pic underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and E90.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to deliver extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer SX170 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography information
Pentax E90 Portrait photography information
43
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography details
Pentax E90 Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography advice
Pentax E90 Sports photography advice
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography factors
Pentax E90 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competition in class (251g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
50
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography info
Pentax E90 Landscape photography info
49
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
22
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX170 IS
Vlogging with Pentax E90
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (251g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
22
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Pentax E90
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISPentax Optio E90
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Pentax Optio E90
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 3
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 32-95mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 6cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lbs) 145 gr (0.32 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 life 300 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $0 $100