Canon PowerShot
S90
 vs
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-HX5

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot S95 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Canon PowerShot S90

68

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S90

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Sensor size
 Large sensor
1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

57

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel

differences

Advantages of the Canon S90
Aperture Much wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest zoom, the S90's lens captures much more light (1.6 f-stops)
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.5" 6.3x4.2mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
Canon PowerShot S90 Learn more about
the Canon S90

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Zoom More zoom 10x vs 3.8x
Help
 More than 7x more zoom
Wide angle Better wide angle 25 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 0.9 fps
Help
 More than 11x faster continuous shooting
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Size Slightly smaller 102x58x29 mm vs 100x58x30 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Much cheaper $251.00 vs $535.65
Help
 The best price we've seen is $285 cheaper (2.1x less)
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S90 Canon PowerShot S90
68 vs 57
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
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 travel zoom.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot S90
 Canon PowerShot S90 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
1
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
0
1
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
1
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
0
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/1600 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
S90:198 g
DSC-HX5:200 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
S90:1.2"
DSC-HX5:1.1"
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Size Large Help
S90:100x58x30 mm
DSC-HX5:102x58x29 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$369
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$414 - $430
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$289 - $328
Zoom Has much more zoom
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$125 - $233
Size Is significantly smaller
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Aperture Has a significantly narrower aperture
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$219 - $304
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$277
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P300 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Coolpix P300 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$179 - $197
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the PowerShot S90
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

Canon PowerShot S90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam

$707
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Weight Significantly heavier
Light sensitivity (boost) Worse boost ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX3 vs the PowerShot S90
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$320 - $468
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot S90
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Much larger
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot S90

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v

Travel zoom

$219 - $250
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-H70

Sony Cybershot H70

Travel zoom

$170 - $201
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Sensor size Larger sensor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the Cybershot H70 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR

Travel zoom

$482 - $529
Zoom Much more zoom
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the FinePix F770 EXR vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$285 - $361
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Zoom More zoom
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS7 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

appearance

Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for Steven Vance Steven Vance (1:04 AM, March 30, 2010)
That's exactly what it does. I was able to test the TX7 at a local store because I knew it has the same software and sensor features of the HX5.

The HX5 and TX7 have useful features - they aren't gimmicks. Canon includes a panorama assist feature that helps guide the user to take multiple shots, which it then stitches together - it can take longer than a minute. The Sony cameras have a panorama assist feature (called iSweep) that lets the user freely pan the camera in about 5 seconds.

My choice should be evident. Now to find the best retailer...

I like how this site elegantly compares the features of two cameras. I'm skeptical of how it calls a winner in the comparison (the comparison between the Sony HX5 and TX7 calls the TX7 a winner, to which I disagree).
 
Avatar for christopherreid christopherreid (0:56 AM, March 30, 2010)
Thanks for the feedback Steven, I saw some photos of Handheld Twilight for the Sony Cyber-shot tx7 and its very impressive. I believe it blends multiple exposures together as an intelligent way to remove the blur, I love the concept.
 
Avatar for Steven Vance Steven Vance (0:48 AM, March 30, 2010)
Without reviewing sample photos from these cameras, it seems the Sony really is the clear winner. I have compared photos from each camera (in this post on Dpreview.com) and they seem neck and neck.

I am choosing the Sony because it has a longer zoom and HD movie mode. However, the Canon's wide aperture is enticing, but not as enticing as the Sony's Handheld Twilight feature or 25mm wide angle lens.