Canon PowerShot
S95
 vs
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-WX5

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-WX9

Canon PowerShot S95

77
"Image quality is still excellent, with a usable ISO range of 80-800 and fast f/2.0 maximum aperture, albeit only at the wide-angle lens setting, making the S95 very well-suited to low-light, hand-held photography."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's iso-noise
"Something that was glaringly missing from the S90 - HD video capture - has been rectified on the S95, with 720p movies at 1280x720 pixels resolution available at 24fps complete with stereo sound."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S95

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Size
 Really small
Compact 99x58x29 mm
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
 Large sensor
1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

71

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Size
 Really small
Super compact 92x52x22 mm
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Thickness
 Thin
0.9"

differences

Advantages of the Canon S95
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Aperture Wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.4
Help
 At its widest zoom, the S95's lens captures slightly more light (0.5 f-stops)
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
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
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 2s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95

Advantages of the Sony DSC-WX5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Size Significantly smaller 92x52x22 mm vs 99x58x29 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
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 1.9 fps
Help
 Around 5.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 0.9" vs 1.2"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 146 g vs 193 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Zoom Slightly more zoom 5x vs 3.8x
Help
 Around 80% more zoom
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 320 ms vs 610 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Cheaper $230.00 vs $340.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $110 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-WX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S95
77 vs 71
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S95. 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 compact.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Canon S95 or the Sony DSC-WX5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by Alex-Ayala last month
Canon S95 vs Nikon P310

I am an architect and I need a canara for outdoor shooting, I use the images as a suport for my...
0
votes
by Maria-Mangiore-Kohrs this month
Canon 310 HS vs Canon S95

Somewhere in the middle.... not an expert at all but not really a beginner either... posed dance...

One person recommends the Canon 310 HS:

" Maria, I recommend the Elph 310 HS is your best selection for your criteria.  primarily because ..."
0
votes
by Gloria-Isaac-Hills this month
Canon G12 vs Canon S95

I want the ability to shot landscape shots and zoom in on mountains and such. 
-1
votes
by Johnette-LaBorde last month
Canon G12 vs Canon S95

I am a beginner wanting mostly sloe up- people shots- not si much landscape- aI also have a Niko...
1
votes
by Randy-Roussel last month
Canon 300 HS vs Canon S95

Not a beginner but no where near an expert. I enjoy taking pictures and making movies for the litt...

2 people recommend the Canon S95:

" I also agree with Alex.  The faster glass and larger sensor in the S95 will allow for faster shu..."

"Hi Randy, I'm recommending the S95, but you should consider its successor the S100. The S100 (and ..."

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
S95:f/2.0
DSC-WX5:f/2.4
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/1600 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S95:3.8x
DSC-WX5:5x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319 - $330
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P300 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Coolpix P300 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen
Aperture Has a significantly narrower aperture
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $307
Zoom Has much more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Canon ELPH 310 HS

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Travel zoom

$195 - $196
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Wide angle Has a significantly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a much narrower aperture
Compare the ELPH 310 HS vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the ELPH 310 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Much larger
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot S95
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Size Much larger
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PowerShot S95
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot S95

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX9

Sony Cybershot WX9

Compact

$278
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen size Larger screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Cybershot WX9 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50

Sony Cyber-shot WX50

Ultra compact

$178 - $198
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
3D Takes 3D photos
Aperture Narrower aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Cyber-shot WX50 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX7

Sony Cybershot WX7

Compact

$241 - $273
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Thinner
Aperture Narrower aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Cybershot WX7 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189
Supports 24p Supports 24p
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the ELPH 100 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Ultra compact

$285
Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Lower resolution movies
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

appearance

Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Jackaferdelabor (6:35 AM, June 16, 2011)
Jus bought the sony . was considering the canon...However the price on the sony was much better... In terms of actual image quality and vividness, (regardless of the spex given-) which takes the better fotos? (Id like to hear from someone who has tested them both.)
 
Shiestytracks (1:19 AM, January 11, 2011)
s95 is alot better,although the authors do make a great comment about comparing a pro digi cam to a compact. The amount of features on the s95 make it alot more amazing, even though the sony does give you better quality video the s95 allows you to manually focus while recording live video,that means the same effect as using a SLR shooting hi def video...enough said i would say.