Canon PowerShot
S90
 vs
Nikon 1
J1

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot S95 vs Nikon 1 J1

Canon PowerShot S90

59

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S90

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Weight
 Light-weight
198 g
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
Nikon 1 J1

38
Runner-up

Nikon 1 J1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 J1

High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
60 fps
Badge
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Focus points
 Many focus points
135

differences

Advantages of the Canon S90
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 277 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Canon PowerShot S90 Learn more about
the Canon S90

Advantages of the Nikon J1
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 0.9 fps
Help
 More than 66.5x faster continuous shooting
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 46.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Sensor size Larger sensor 1" 13.2x8.8mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 372 ISO vs 185 ISO
Help
 The J1 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the S90
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/1600s
Help
 10x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S90 Canon PowerShot S90
59 vs 38
Explain scores
Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S90. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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0
votes
by Stacy-Smith-Prater last month
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

I want to capture my son out on the soccer field and my daughter at swim meets in low light in ind...

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" Get the Nikon D3100, you should only consider the J1 if its really important for the camera to b..."

"Go with the Nikon D3100, DSLRs are a proven technology, Mirrorless cameras will one day be better ..."
1
votes
by bobby-loomba last month
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

I love photography, lighting and taking artistic snaps. Not new to it but not a pro yet.

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

"The D3100 offers you more range, than the J1, because there are more lenses."
0
votes
by tdlorimer last week
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

Years ago I used to take professional pictures for portraits, modeling (people just starting out...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" it would be great to use Fuji Velvia dia slide film with F100 nikon as it's the best 35 mm after..."
0
votes
by Meg-Stevens yesterday
Nikon J1 vs Nikon P510

I'm intermediate.  I take hundreds of pictures but am not well versed in SLR cameras yet
3
votes
by Nicole-Chan last week
Nikon J1 vs Olympus E-PM1

I am a beginner. My husband has a Nikon D7000 but I find it too bulky. Although the picture qual...

6 people recommend the Olympus E-PM1:

"The Nikon 1 J1 has and optional lens adapter that would make you use your husband's lenses since h..."

" The J1 has too small of a sensor for high quality photos in anything but bright daylight. Nikon ..."

" 4/3 lenses are more common. Most optically perfect m39 screw mount lenses can be used perfectly ..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11 EV
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
S90:185 ISO
J1:372 ISO
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the 1 J1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the 1 J1
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the D5100 vs the 1 J1
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the 1 J1
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the 1 J1
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the 1 J1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the 1 J1

Canon PowerShot S90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Supports 24p Supports 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot S90
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam

$573
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX3 vs the PowerShot S90
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PowerShot S90

Nikon 1 J1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the 1 J1
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lens availability Much more lenses available
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the 1 J1

appearance

Canon PowerShot S90 Nikon 1 J1
Canon PowerShot S90 Nikon 1 J1
Canon PowerShot S90 Nikon 1 J1

discussion

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