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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 front
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
26
Overall
30

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 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
  • Released August 2012
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Sony T90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 148g - 94 x 57 x 15mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Canon SX500 IS and Sony T90, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Canon and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and T90 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was introduced 3 years after the T90 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony T90 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX500 IS scores against the T90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony T90

 SX500 IS T90 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2009More modern by 43 months
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony T90 over the Canon SX500 IS

 T90 SX500 IS 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony T90

 SX500 IS T90 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Sony T90 has measurements of 94mm x 57mm x 15mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.6") and a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX500 IS and Sony T90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the T90.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and T90 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by reading technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and T90.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should count on the Canon SX500 IS to offer more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS should have an edge in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
Portrait photography with Sony T90
46
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography advice
Sony T90 Street photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition (148g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony T90 as a Sports photography camera
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (195 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography info
Sony T90 Travel photography info
59
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (195 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
50
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (148g)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Sony T90
46
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery life (195 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
36
you can focus manually
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging factors
Sony T90 Vlogging factors
28
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
27
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than competition (148 grams)
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony T90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony T90
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2012-08-21 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
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 surface 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, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
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) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 2.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 pounds) 148 grams (0.33 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 94 x 57 x 15mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.6")
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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $299 $259