Canon PowerShot
SX20 IS
 vs
Nikon Coolpix
P90

Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P90

Nikon Coolpix P90

59

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P90

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
6,400 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
 Light-weight
400 g
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

57

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX20 IS
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3.4" vs 3.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS

Advantages of the Nikon P90
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The P90's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Zoom More zoom 24x vs 20x
Help
 More than 40% more zoom
Wide angle Better wide angle 26 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 Around 10% better wide angle
Weight Significantly lighter 400 g vs 600 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 83x114x99 mm vs 128x88x87 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon Coolpix P90 Learn more about
the Nikon P90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
57 vs 59
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P90 Nikon Coolpix P90
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot SX20 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P90
NikonCoolpix P90
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
2
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
1
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
2
1
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
1
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
1
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
1
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Zoom Great zoom Help
SX20 IS:20x
P90:24x
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX20 IS:0 cm
P90:1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX20 IS:3.4"
P90:3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
SX20 IS:600 g
P90:400 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Size Large Help
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm
P90:83x114x99 mm
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Poor movies Help
SX20 IS:720p @ 30fps
P90:480p @ 30fps

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
Zoom Poor zoom Help
SX20 IS:20x
P90:24x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$339 - $350
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Coolpix P90
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the Coolpix P90
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Coolpix P90
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$310 - $475
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the Coolpix P90
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Super zoom

$400
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Supports RAW Shoots RAW
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ35 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ35 vs the Coolpix P90
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 vs the Coolpix P90
Kodak Easyshare Z990 MAX

Kodak Easyshare Z990 MAX

Super zoom
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Easyshare Z990 MAX vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Easyshare Z990 MAX vs the Coolpix P90

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Travel zoom

$305 - $379
Screen size Much larger screen
Size Much smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the PowerShot SX220 HS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$379
Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Super zoom
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the PowerShot SX10 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS

Nikon Coolpix P90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix L110

Nikon Coolpix L110

Super zoom

$253 - $272
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Smaller
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Coolpix L110 vs the Coolpix P90

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P90
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P90
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P90

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?

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