Model Design / Appearance
Breaking from tradition, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S90 does not exhibit the sleek, fashionable form that previous Sony models, such as the T33, are known for. Instead, the S90 has a homelier appearance with a more generic silver-colored plastic body. The camera is largely rectangular in form with rounded edges and a gentle slope on the front to thicken the right-hand grip. While appearance is not the S90’s strongest attribute, the camera instead looks to make its mark with performance and functionality.
Size / Portability
Weighing 7.1 ounces, the Sony Cyber-shot S90 is lightweight, yet has enough heft to convey a feeling of substance and stability to the camera’s form. A wrist strap can be attached to the side of the frame to aid in portability. Although compact, the S90 may be a bit too bulky for a pocket; it measures 4.75 x 2.5 x 1.6 inches, which is a bit longer than most compact cameras. Its surfaces are fairly flat, although the right-hand grip is slightly thicker and protrudes enough to snag on your pants or coat pocket.
Handling Ability
Because of the thicker right-hand grip, holding the Sony S90 is slightly more comfortable than holding most flat compact cameras. There is a raised panel with textured dots on the back for easy thumb gripping. In the front, there is an inch-long raised grip for the index fingers – though, unfortunately, it’s a polished material. So while it is a nice protrusion for gripping most of the time, fingers may still slip when the air is humid or hands are sweaty. All around, the camera is easy to handle and control and only gets into a gray area when it comes to portability.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
Regardless of the S90’s 4.75 x 2.5 inch back face, some of the controls on the back of the camera are still undersized. The three buttons to the right of the LCD screen are a bit small, although they are adequately spaced, so users do not have to fear pushing two at once. The four-way navigational dial is amply sized, as well as the crucial shutter release. The mode dial surrounding the shutter release button is an interesting concept, and should increase the ever-important mode alteration time, though the placement does seem to work. All of the buttons on the S90 are properly spaced and easy to find, but due to their meager size many controls are cumbersome to access and engage.
Menu
The menus on the S90 are intuitive and are all accompanied by text for clarification. When menu options are scrolled through, users can preview potential alterations on the live feed. For instance, when users scroll through the white balance options, they can see the difference between the fluorescent and 
incandescent settings on the actual composition and make an appropriate decision about which is more practical for the shot. Oddly enough, many cameras still utilize obsolete menu formats that require users to continually test and check all alterations to determine the appropriate selection – a frustrating and unnecessarily time consuming process that is fortunately avoided on the S90.
The following menu options are available in Shooting modes on the S90: Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation, Picture Effects, Recording Mode, Picture Quality, ISO, White Balance, Metering, and Focus. In the Playback menu, the following options are available: Protect, DPOF, Print, Slide, Resize, Rotate, Divide, and Setup.
Ease of Use
With its optimal placement of controls, live view with menu options, and large 2.5-inch LCD screen, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S90 is fairly easy to use for any level user. With the inclusion of live histograms and a live view of white balance and other menu options, users can make more informed decisions about the shot prior to recording the exposure. All of the buttons are clearly labeled and the menus are printed in text, so quickly finding the right setting is easy. With an affordable price tag, the S90 is even fit for beginners.
