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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax H90, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and H90 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was introduced 2 years after the H90 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SX500 IS scores vs the H90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Pentax H90

 SX500 IS H90 
LaunchedAugust 2012January 2010Newer by 32 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Canon SX500 IS

 H90 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax H90

 SX500 IS H90 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX500 IS offers external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Pentax H90 has sizing of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax H90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS versus the H90.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and H90 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specs. The pic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and H90.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to give greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Pentax H90 Portrait photography highlights
46
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
Pentax H90 Street photography highlights
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Pentax H90
44
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (195 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Pentax H90
59
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (195 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
57
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
Pentax H90 Landscape photography information
46
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery pack (195 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
36
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax H90 as a Vlogging camera
28
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Pentax H90
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPentax Optio H90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Pentax Optio H90
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-21 2010-01-25
Physical type 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 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 153 grams (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 195 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L D-LI68
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
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $299 $150