-
Introduction
-
01.Product Tour
-
02.Color
-
03.Noise
-
04.Resolution
-
05.Video
-
06.Sample Photos
-
07.Playback
-
08.Hardware
-
09.Controls
-
10.Design & Handling
-
11.Panasonic ZS3 Comparison
-
12.Canon SD970 IS Comparison
-
13.Fuji F200EXR Comparison
-
14.Conclusion
-
15.Photo Gallery
-
16.Comments
Canon PowerShot S90
Previous: Page 10
Design & HandlingNext: Page 12
Canon SD970 IS ComparisonPanasonic ZS3 Comparison
In terms of the specs of the two products, the Panasonic ZS3 is the top pick: it has a longer zoom (12x against the 3.8x of the Canon) and shoots HD video. But a camera is about more than specs, and the competition between the two is much closer in terms of how they perform. We found that the Canon was the superior performer in terms of the noise and resolution; the images it captured had lower noise and more detail. The Panasonic had slightly better color performance, though, and their image stabilization system was superior to the Canon, producing sharper shots at our tested shutter speed of 1/30 of a second.
The Canon S90 was the easier camera to use; the combination of the front control wheel and the control dial on the back of the camera made it much quicker to switch modes and change settings like the shutter speed, and the dial around the lens has an undeniable retro charm.
One area where the Panasonic clearly excels is in shooting movies: it records video at a much higher resolution with better detail, color and smoother movement. So if you are looking for a combination still and video device, the Panasonic is the best choice. But if you focus more on still images, the two cameras are very evenly matched.
| Canon PowerShot S90 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Canon PowerShot S90 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | |
| Price | $430.00 | $399.95 |
| Colors | black | black, blue, silver, red |
| Dimensions | 100.0mm x 30.9mm x 58.4mm | 103.3mm x 59.6mm x 32.8mm |
| Optical Zoom | 3.75x | 12x |
| Sensor | 1/1.7"-type, CCD, 10.4 megapixels | 1/2.33"-type, CCD, 12.7 megapixels |
| Display | LCD, 3.0 in., 461000 pixels | LCD, 3.0 in., 460000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | none | none |
| Manual Controls | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control | custom white balance, ISO control |
| Connectivity | A/V, USB | USB, A/V, miniHDMI |
| Battery | removable lithium-ion, NB-6L2 | removable lithium-ion, DMW-BCG10PP |
Shop for the Canon S90
Latest News
& Reviews
-
18-May-2012
Samsung NX210 First Impressions Review
The Samsung NX210 combines the sleek, compact design of the NX1000, with a few of the extra high-performance features and design implementations of the high-end NX20. Read More...
-
18-May-2012
Sony Alpha A77 Digital Camera Review
Sony’s blazing fast, top-of-the-line SLT A77 has just about everything we could ask for in a modern system camera. Read More...
Canon S90 Manual
Top Rated Point & Shoots
-
$499.001Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review
$499.00TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -
$449.992Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review
$449.99TypesUltra-ZoomAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels16.8 MP -
$799.993Canon PowerShot G1 X
Canon's new G1 X features a giant 1.5-inch CMOS sensor and the same manual control that we loved on the G12. Read full 7-part review
$799.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -
$429.994Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review
$429.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -
$399.995Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review
$399.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels
Features
-
Canon 5D Mark III Review, News, and Samples
Check out all the latest news, reviews, sample photos and videos from the Canon 5D Mark III. Read More...
-
CP+ 2012 Digital Cameras
We’re live in Yokohama for our second year covering Japan’s premier photo show. Stay tuned for dozens of new product announcements and our first-hand impressions of all the cameras they didn’t have at CES. Read More...
-
CES 2012 Digital Cameras
We’re in sunny Vegas to bring you the latest news and in-depth first impressions reviews of all the hottest cameras for 2012. Read More...
-
DigitalCameraInfo New Year's Giveaway
Check back every day for the rest of 2011 to see what we’re adding to the grand prize package. It all starts with the Sony NEX-5N and ends with over $4000 in prizes! Read More...
-
DigitalCameraInfo.com 2011 Select Awards
After a year of tireless testing and deliberation, we’ve made our selections for the very best cameras of 2011. Read More...
(add your own)