Canon S90
- 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 28-105mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
- 195g - 100 x 58 x 31mm
- Revealed April 2010
- Successor is Canon S95
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
92 Imaging
34 Features
42 Overall
37
Canon S90 overview
Canon S90 is Canon's Small Sensor Compact camera initially launched on April of 2010. The camera has a 10MP, CCD 1/1.7" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 3648 x 2736.
Canon introduced the updated Canon S95 (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this camera.
The S90 is positioned #73 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all round #857 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can try out our Advanced camera finder to find camera ratings based on your personal factors.
Here is a chart of different criteria used in the scoring system.
Canon S90 family
The Canon S90 comes with a history of related cameras. Down below, you can view all earlier and most recent models as well as main specifications.
F2.0-4.910MP1/1.7"2010
Canon S90 Gallery
You can see the S90 from different angles in the gallery below.
Canon S90 Pros and Cons
Below is a checklist of positives and negatives of the Canon S90 based on things which are typically seen as important in a camera.
Canon S90 Sensor specifications
The Canon S90 houses the Digic 4 processor. The sensor dimension on the Canon S90 is 7.44mm x 5.58mm (1/1.7"). The 42 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 3648 x 2736 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily cause cropping.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe CCD sensor boasts 10MP and has a native ISO range of 80 to 3200. RAW photos are saved therefore the user has wider room to maneuver in post.
The picture underneath displays the S90's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The S90 sensor comes with a crop factor of 4.8 and is outlined in green.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banTo get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
Canon S90 dimensions
Canon S90 weighs around 0.43 lbs (195 grams or 6.88 oz) and the over all size of the camera is 100mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams and the Canon S90 is weightier compared with its competitors.
Photography GlossaryHere is a shot of the Canon S90 beside a soft drink so you're able to have a sense of its scale.
The top view underneath will provide the button arrangement on the S90.
Canon S90 Lens specifications
The S90 offers a built in lens and a focal range of 28-105mm making it a 3.8 x zoom which is not at all ideal however it will be useful in a few conditions.
At the widest 28mm, it will have an aperture of f2.0 making it amazing in low light situations and capturing a shallow depth of field. It would also let you use a lower ISO to produce better files. At the tele end, 105mm comes at f4.9 which is quite slow and you may need to apply slow shutter speeds.
Canon S90 Connectivity
The S90 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that feature NFC or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily transfer photos and usually adjust camera settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.
Several applications even stream a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it can easily be connected to an external display. Nearly all cameras enable you to recharge the battery through the USB socket.
Canon S90 Video specifications
The highest video quality on the Canon S90 is 640 x 480 and it can capture in H.264 format. 480p is low by today's requirements. You should really target at least 1080p quality for video recording. The camera doesn't include a mic or headphone socket which means that you get no control over your audio. It is perhaps a better idea to have a look at a different model in case you want better audio in your video clips.
Canon S90 Weather Sealing
Canon S90 doesn't include weather sealing so damp conditions could ruin the camera.
Canon S90 Display and Viewfinder
The Canon S90 has a 3" fixed screen boasting a resolution of 461k dots.
Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe ViewFinder specifications regarding Canon S90 are below:
- ViewFinder None
In those sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera screens washed out and tough to view, viewfinders will be rather valuable.
Canon S90 Shutter specifications
Canon S90 has the capability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.
Canon S90 Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Canon S90 boasts only built in flash without external flash ability. The maximum flash sync is 1/500 sec.
Canon S90 Autofocus specifications
Canon S90 boasts just Contrast Detect Autofocus and is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster and exact compared with Contrast Detect focusing.
It has 9 focus points to pick from. Canon S90 comes with manual focus when required during low light situations or you want to have more exact control on focus.
Canon S90 Battery life
The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has got the highest (470) battery life within this range of cameras.
Following is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:
Canon S90 for different styles of photography
The following illustration displays a summation of the Canon S90 for different styles of photography. To read more, check out the specific section underneath.
Canon S90 as a Portrait photography camera
The Canon S90 has a points total of 40 which is really bad, meaning that it is not really appropriate for portrait photos. Photographing portraits leans heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support along with the ability to use external flash.
Canon S90 as a Street photography camera
Coming in at a very good rating of 64, the Canon S90 is a good fit to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of picture quality and portability.
Canon S90 Sports photography advice
A really bad sports photography score of 27 suggests the Canon S90 is not really appropriate for taking pictures of sports. A camera must have fantastic tracking plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Canon S90 Travel photography factors
Weight is super crucial when selecting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Canon S90 gets a nice 63 as a travel camera which is a very decent choice to buy for your vacations.
Canon S90 Landscape photography features
For anybody who is planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most critical factor will be image quality. The Canon S90 with it's decent grade of 52 for a landscape camera is somewhat suitable amongst it's rivals.
Canon S90 Vlogging highlights
A vlogging camera really should have a moving display, microphone port and if possible image stabilization. Considering every thing, the Canon S90 is not really appropriate for vlogging as it receives a really bad rating of 31.
Canon S90 Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to the S90, here is a range of the highest ranked cameras that fall into the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The chart followed below provides you an overview of the S90 versus it's top rated rivals shown previously.
There are more cameras you may regard as alternatives. To go through a detailed comparison, just click on the "compare" link.