Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot S95 vs Sony NEX C3

Canon PowerShot S90

59

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S90

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Sony Alpha NEX-3

47

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-3

"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality
"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Overall image quality
Great image quality
68.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Color depth
Great color depth
22.1 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon S90

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Slightly smaller 100x58x30 mm vs 117x62x33 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 297 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Canon PowerShot S90 Learn more about
the Canon S90

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 68.0 vs 46.0
Help
Around 50% better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2x higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
Around 8.5x larger sensor
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 20.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 185 ISO
Help
The NEX-3 has excellent image quality 2.2 f-stops higher ISO than the S90
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 0.9 fps
Help
Around 8x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/1600s
Help
2.5x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S90 Canon PowerShot S90
59 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
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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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Movie format Poor movies Help
S90:480p @ 30fps
NEX-3:720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier

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
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
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

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range More dynamic range
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

appearance

Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Alpha NEX-3

discussion

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