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Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
55
Overall
43
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS front
 
Pentax X90 front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Key Specs

Canon SX50 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 595g - 123 x 87 x 106mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX40 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX60 HS
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 SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Canon SX50 HS and Pentax X90, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SX50 HS (12MP) and the X90 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX50 HS was launched 2 years after the X90 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SX50 HS scores vs the X90 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

				

Reasons to pick Canon SX50 HS over the Pentax X90

 SX50 HS X90 
IntroducedJanuary 2013July 2010Newer by 31 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing2.8"2.7"Larger display (+0.1")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Canon SX50 HS

 X90 SX50 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX50 HS and Pentax X90

 SX50 HS X90 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX50 HS enjoys outer measurements of 123mm x 87mm x 106mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 4.2") accompanied by a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Pentax X90 has dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX50 HS and Pentax X90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SX50 HS compared to the X90.

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX50 HS and X90 is 65 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specs. The picture below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX50 HS and X90.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of images though you may want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The younger SX50 HS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX50 HS
Portrait photography with Pentax X90
48
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
29
you can focus manually
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX50 HS Street photography highlights
Pentax X90 Street photography highlights
57
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (595 grams)
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX50 HS
Sports photography with Pentax X90
39
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
42
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX50 HS
Travel photography with Pentax X90
53
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (595 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
51
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX50 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Landscape photography camera
45
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse recording
35
you can focus manually
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX50 HS Vlogging highlights
Pentax X90 Vlogging highlights
58
rather wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than others (595g)
23
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Canon SX50 HS vs Pentax X90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX50 HS and Pentax X90
 Canon PowerShot SX50 HSPentax X90
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Pentax X90
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-15 2010-07-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.8" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 202 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.50 m 9.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 gr (1.31 lb) 428 gr (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 87 x 106mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 4.2") 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 179 not tested
Other
Battery life 315 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-10L D-L106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $429 $350