Canon SX620 HS vs Casio EX-Z90

Compact Showdown: Canon SX620 HS vs Casio EX-Z90 - Which Tiny Camera Packs More Punch?

In the endlessly captivating world of digital cameras, compact models have a special place in many photographers’ hearts and bags. Whether you’re a casual snapper craving something pocketable for travel or a budding enthusiast who appreciates the simplicity (and often affordability) of small-sensor cameras, the choice of your sidekick is critical. Today, I’m unpacking a face-off between two contenders from distinct eras but somewhat overlapping market segments: the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS (2016) and the Casio Exilim EX-Z90 (2009).

They’re both small, light, and armed with fixed lenses - but that’s where the similarities mostly end. After putting both through their paces in everything from portraiture to nighttime shots (and yes, some street photography sprinkled in for fun), here’s everything you need to know to decide which might best suit your shooting style and budget.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Feel, and Ergonomics

Before diving into megapixels and burst rates, let’s talk about how these cameras feel in the hand because, let’s be honest, if a compact doesn’t feel right, you’ll quickly find it gathering dust.

The Canon SX620 HS weighs in at 182 grams and measures roughly 97 x 57 x 28 mm. It feels solid yet light, carrying that reassuring compact grip you expect from Canon’s PowerShot line - minimal but intuitive control layout, decent texturing on the grip area, and a quick physical zoom lever circling the shutter. Its body feels clearly designed for one-handed operation with minimal fumbling.

In contrast, the Casio EX-Z90 is lighter at 121 grams and a smidge smaller (90 x 52 x 19 mm), making it one of the quintessential ultra-lightpoint-and-shoots of the late 2000s. However, its diminutive size also means sacrifices: the controls are tighter, less ergonomic for bigger hands, and the plastic build doesn’t inspire the same confidence. In prolonged shooting sessions, the Canon feels like it was ergonomically thought-through, whereas the Casio feels a bit toy-like - not a huge deal for point-and-shoots, but noticeable.

If portability plus a near-inconspicuous carry is your mojo, the Casio nudges ahead. But if usability and comfort over time count more - the Canon is the clear favorite here.

Design Details Up Close: Top Controls and Touchpoints

While both cameras are firmly positioned as compact point-and-shoots, there’s a subtle but telling difference in their user interface and control layouts.

The Canon retains a simple yet modern approach: there's a built-in flash pop-up, a zoom rocker that doubles as the shutter button, and a few buttons for playback, menu, and mode selection. While it lacks a dedicated aperture or shutter priority mode (we'll talk about exposure control later), the menu navigation is surprisingly responsive, boosted by its newer DIGIC 4+ processor.

The Casio’s top plate is minimalist to a fault - just a shutter, zoom rocker, and power toggle. No built-in flash pop-up; it simply pokes a flash bulb out of the frame. Menu navigation is slower and feels clunkier by comparison, a reflection of both its age and budget roots.

In terms of raw controls, Canon SX620 HS slightly edges out for ease of use, especially for those who want to adjust settings on the fly without fumbling through dense menus.

Looking Into the Heart: Sensor Technology and Imaging Capabilities

At the core of any camera’s image quality is the sensor, and while both use the standard 1/2.3” size that dominates compact models, there are important distinctions.

• Canon SX620 HS features a 20.2-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, coupled with a DIGIC 4+ image processor. Backside illumination (BSI) helps gather light more efficiently, enhancing low-light performance and dynamic range compared to older CCDs.

• Casio EX-Z90, on the other hand, sports a 12.1-megapixel CCD sensor. CCDs historically delivered good image quality, especially in bright conditions, but are less power-efficient and tend to lag behind CMOS in noise control and speed.

On paper, the Canon’s sensor not only grants higher resolution but also tangible improvements in image quality, particularly when shooting challenging lighting scenarios like indoors or dusk. In my side-by-side tests, Canon’s images exhibited cleaner shadows, more vibrancy, and better detail retention, whereas the Casio images looked softer and noisier when pushed beyond ISO 400.

Of course, pixel count isn’t everything - and in low-end compacts, sensor quality trumps sheer megapixels every day. But here, the SX620 HS clearly wins hands down on sensor tech.

Real-World Image Outcomes: Sharpness, Color, and Exposure

If numbers bore you (fair), the bottom line is: how do the photos look?

Canon SX620 HS front Canon SX620 HS screen back Casio EX Z90 front Casio EX Z90 screen back

Portrait Photography:
Canon’s higher resolution and better face detection autofocus helped capture more detailed, natural skin tones. Eye detection isn’t available, but contrast-detection AF with face priority provided reliable subject acquisition most times. The SX620’s lens maxes at f/3.2 at the wide end, f/6.6 tele, which delivers reasonably pleasant background blur at 25mm equivalent focal length - not exactly portrait-bokeh spectacular, but enough separation for casual portraits.

Casio’s lens (35-105mm equivalent) is slower, coupled with its older sensor. Skin tones sometimes skewed a little flat or cool, and without face detection, I had to manually press AF a bit more often. Also, at f/3.1 to f/5.9, the aperture range makes subtle background blur challenging; portraits feel a bit “flat” due to the overall optical limitations.

Landscape Photography:
The Canon’s 20MP sensor and better dynamic range allowed for capturing impressive detail in shadows and highlights, a boon for outdoor and landscape shots. Its longer zoom (25-625mm equivalent) covers pretty much any framing you’d want. Note: no weather sealing here, so careful if rain shows up.

The Casio’s shorter zoom and CCD sensor result in images with slightly diminished sharpness and dynamic range. Especially in high-contrast scenes, highlights clipped faster, and shadows lacked nuance. Its smaller screen and lower resolution LCD also make composing landscapes a tad more challenging.

Autofocus and Burst: How Fast and Accurate?

Speed is everything when your subject isn’t holding still - say, street photography, sports, or wildlife.

• Canon SX620 HS offers contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points and face detection. Autofocus is decently quick for still life and casual snapshots but introduces slight hunting in low light or low-contrast scenes, as expected from a contrast-only system. Continuous AF and tracking modes are present but basic.

• Casio EX-Z90 offers only single-shot contrast-detection AF, lacking any continuous tracking or face detection. It’s noticeably slower and more prone to focus misses, especially for moving subjects.

Burst shooting capabilities further differentiate the two: Canon manages 2.5 fps continuous shooting, which is modest but usable for casual action sequences. Casio leaves this category blank (“n/a”), underscoring its more limited real-time capture capabilities.

Bottom line: For anything action-related - wildlife shots, street candid moments, or sport - the Canon SX620 HS takes the lead with more forgiving AF and faster shooting speeds, though neither camera will impress professional sports shooters used to DSLR or mirrorless speeds.

Display and User Interface Experience

Let’s talk about the windows into your photographic world - the LCD screens and menus.

The Canon SX620 HS sports a 3.0-inch fixed LCD with 922k-dot resolution, offering a crisp and bright preview image. The menu system is straightforward and relatively speedy - a pleasant surprise given its budget status. The absence of a touchscreen was disappointing (in the mid-2010s, many budget compacts began adopting this), but the physical buttons suffice.

Casio’s EX-Z90 has a smaller 2.7-inch screen with a mere 230k-dot resolution, making the interface and image review feel dated by today’s standards. Navigating menus can be slow and clunky, requiring several button presses. No touchscreen or live modes helped, but frankly, it feels like a relic from the late 2000s.

For photographers who spend time framing and reviewing shots on the camera itself, the Canon’s better screen and UI make shooting feel considerably less frustrating.

Video Capabilities: Modest Efforts from Both

If video is on your mind - say, travel vlogging or family videos - it’s worth acknowledging both cameras’ limitations.

• The Canon records 1080p Full HD at 30 fps using efficient H.264 compression, delivering reasonably good detail and smoother video than the Casio. It also supports 720p and VGA resolutions but lacks advanced features like 4K, slow motion, or microphone input.

• Casio’s video maxes out at 720p at 24 fps in Motion JPEG format, which results in larger file sizes and somewhat choppier smoothness. No HDMI out or external mic input either.

Neither camera is designed for serious videography, but Canon’s more modern codec and resolution deserve a nod from casual shooters.

Macro and Close-Up: How Close can they Go?

For lovers of texture and fine detail - flowers, insects, coins - macro capabilities matter.

Canon’s SX620 HS boasts a macro focusing distance down to 1cm, which is spectacular for a compact; this lets you get ridiculously close to subjects, gently blurring the background given its longer zoom reach. Optical image stabilization also helps reduce blur at close distances.

Casio has a more pedestrian minimum focus distance of 10cm, resulting in less magnification and limiting intimate macro compositions. No image stabilization further compounds challenges for handheld macro shots.

If you adore close-ups, Canon’s SX620 HS offers much more creative freedom.

Battery Life and Practical Handling in the Field

You want a camera that won’t die mid-shoot.

Canon claims roughly 295 shots per charge, which aligns with my real-world testing assuming moderate use of zoom and reviewing images. This is respectable, but you’ll definitely want a spare battery on long shoots or travel.

Casio is less clear - battery life isn’t officially stated, and the older proprietary NP-60 battery is harder to source nowadays. My experience suggested its capacity is shorter, especially given the lack of power-saving sensor tech. I’d recommend carrying multiple batteries if you opt for the Casio.

Both cameras use standard SD cards, which is reassuring. Canon supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, providing greater flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras: Small Details That Count

• Canon SX620 HS offers built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing quick photo transfers to smartphones or tablets - a near-mandatory feature in today’s social-media-first world.

• Casio EX-Z90 supports “Eye-Fi Connected” wireless transfer, relying on older Eye-Fi SD cards - a now-defunct technology that requires additional purchased hardware. No native Wi-Fi or NFC.

Neither supports Bluetooth, GPS, or external microphone input, but Canon’s native Wi-Fi undeniably makes digital sharing easier.

Durability and Weather Sealing: Treat Them With Care

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, shockproofing, or freezeproofing. For outdoor photographers chasing landscapes or wildlife in harsh conditions, you’ll want proper protection or a different camera class altogether.

Price and Value: What Does Your Budget Buy?

At the time of writing, the Canon SX620 HS hovers around $279 new or gently used, while the Casio EX-Z90 can occasionally be found for roughly $150 or less, largely on secondary markets.

You get what you pay for, clearly - Canon’s newer design, improved sensor, and expanded zoom range justify the higher price for anyone serious about image quality. Casio’s EX-Z90 is more of a curiosity - a compact that still works but feels very much a generation behind in tech.

How They Handle Different Photography Styles: Genre-by-Genre Analysis

Photographers’ needs vary greatly, so I broke down suitability for popular genres.

• Portraits: Canon’s superior sensor and AF ease make it the better companion, delivering smoother skin tones and better subject separation.

• Landscape: Canon again wins, benefiting from higher resolution and dynamic range. Casio’s limited zoom hurts framing flexibility.

• Wildlife: Neither ideal, but Canon’s long 25-625mm equivalent zoom delivers reach. AF is basic but serviceable for opportunistic shots.

• Sports: Canon’s 2.5 fps helps, but neither can handle fast action with finesse.

• Street: Casio’s smaller size and lighter weight might appeal. Canon’s better image quality offers a worthwhile tradeoff at only modest size penalty.

• Macro: Canon’s 1cm macro distance and stabilization beat Casio hands down.

• Night/Astro: Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor pulls ahead, albeit neither is a low-light specialist.

• Video: Canon’s 1080p recording and codec trump Casio’s dated, lower-res format.

• Travel: Canon balances zoom versatility, durability, and connectivity better for travellers.

• Professional Work: Neither is a professional tool - no RAW support, limited controls, and basic build.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS presents itself as a well-rounded, versatile compact camera that punches above its weight in image quality, zoom reach, and usability. It’s a solid choice for enthusiasts stepping up from smartphones who want straightforward controls but impressive focal length flexibility and decent low-light capabilities. The Canon’s wireless connectivity and more modern processing mean it fits comfortably in a 2016-2020 era digital workflow.

The Casio Exilim EX-Z90, by contrast, feels like a nostalgic step back in time - a lightweight, super-basic compact for people who want dead-simple point-and-shoot photography without fuss or frills, and with a budget to match. Its image quality, zoom range, and performance limitations suggest it’s best as a casual snapshot camera or collector’s gadget than a serious imaging tool.

If your budget can stretch to it, or if you want a genuinely capable compact zoom companion, go for the Canon SX620 HS. If you want to try simple photography with minimal commitment (and minimal pennies), the Casio EX-Z90 is serviceable as a pocketable camera for bright, easy conditions.

In the vast sea of compacts, these two offer a fascinating time capsule and a modest contender. But for practical, everyday photography and travel, the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS remains the pragmatic pick. Compact, capable, and well-priced - what more could you really ask?

If you want a quick recap:

Thanks for sticking with me through this deep dive! When size and price collide with performance, cameras like these remind us it’s not just about specs - it’s how those specs translate into actual creative fun. And that, dear reader, makes the difference.

Happy shooting!