You want a pocket camera that delivers real manual control without the bulk of a DSLR?

It’s perfect for travel and street shooters who want more control.

I personally field-tested the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera and compared it with a couple of close rivals.

I’ll share how it stands up in real shooting, not just specs.

Enthusiast shooters who crave manual controls but need a pocketable body will love it.

It’s great for travel, street, and landscape work where size and image quality matter.

Its bright lens and RAW capture give you cleaner photos and real editing freedom.

The customizable control ring and tactile layout make quick adjustments feel natural.

The tradeoff is it’s not built for fast action or modern video needs.

Autofocus and burst speed are modest, so it’s not ideal for sports or kids on the move.

This camera feels like a tiny photographer’s toolkit.

Keep reading as I reveal one shocking trick about the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera that could change your photos.

Canon PowerShot S90 Camera

Pocket-sized enthusiast camera with bright f/2 lens, manual controls, RAW support and excellent low-light performance—ideal for street and travel photographers seeking superior image quality without sacrificing portability.

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The Numbers You Need

How It’s Built

In my testing the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera felt like a tiny pro tool in your pocket. The body is compact and solid, so it survives being tossed in a bag and still feels nice in hand. That means you can actually carry it every day without feeling weighed down or worried about flimsy parts.

The button layout is refreshingly simple and geared toward photographers, not casual users. I found it easy to learn manual controls without wading through menus, which is great if you’re just getting into photography. For beginners that means less frustration and more time making images.

I really liked the control ring around the lens — it lets you tweak exposure settings fast without stopping to dig into menus. In real-world shooting I used it for quick ISO and aperture changes during street walks, and it saved a lot of missed moments. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference in how fluid shooting feels.

One thing that could be better is the flash and screen arrangement. The flash uses a quirky, non‑pop mechanism controlled from the rear dial, and the LCD is fixed, so shooting from low or high angles is harder. After using it for a while I learned to adjust my stance, but beginners should know you’ll need to be a bit more deliberate with composition.

In Your Hands

The Canon PowerShot S90 delivers image quality that punches well above its compact size, with natural color rendition and crisp detail when lighting cooperates. RAW capture gives serious shooters latitude to shape tones and recover highlights in post without sacrificing file quality. In short, it behaves like a small camera that thinks big.

The fast, bright lens is the camera’s biggest everyday advantage, producing cleaner low‑light images and a shallower depth of field than you’d expect from a pocketable body. Optical stabilization further steadies handheld shots, letting you work at slower settings with more confidence. That said, noise becomes more apparent as you push sensitivity in dim conditions due to the sensor’s limits.

Autofocus is measured rather than lightning-fast, and burst performance is modest, so the S90 isn’t the tool of choice for fast action or sporting moments. Video capabilities are basic and lag behind contemporary HD compacts, making stills the primary strength of this design. Expect solid results for planned shoots but frustration when tracking rapid motion.

Users repeatedly praise the customizable control ring and tactile manual controls for making exposure changes immediate and intuitive. However, the fixed LCD with limited brightness can frustrate composition in harsh daylight and at unconventional angles. For street, travel, and landscape work where portability and still‑image quality matter, the S90 strikes a compelling balance.

The Good and Bad

• Fast bright f/2.0 lens uncommon in compacts
• RAW format support for advanced editing
• Compact and lightweight for everyday carry
• Customizable control ring for quick manual control

• No HD video recording, limited to VGA
• Slow continuous shooting and relatively slow autofocus
• Image quality degrades noticeably above ISO 1600 due to CCD sensor limitations
• Fixed LCD screen angle limits composition flexibility

Ideal Buyer

The Canon PowerShot S90 suits enthusiast photographers who demand full manual control in a true pocketable body. Its fast f/2.0 lens, RAW capture, a built-in ND filter and the customizable control ring put DSLR-style exposure shaping in your coat pocket. The camera’s premium-feeling construction and tactile layout reward people who prefer physical dials and quick adjustments over menu diving.

Street and travel shooters will value the discreet size, excellent color rendering and the ability to create shallow depth of field that most compacts can’t match. Optical image stabilization helps keep handheld low-light shots usable, and RAW gives latitude for editing landscapes, urban scenes and the occasional high-contrast moment while producing pleasing out-of-camera JPEGs. It’s an ideal companion for long walks and light travel.

This is for photographers who want a lightweight everyday carrier that can flip between reliable automatic modes and true manual control. Avoid it if your work demands fast continuous autofocus, high burst rates or HD video performance. For weekend projects, travel journals or daily documentary work where stills quality, creative control and effortless carry matter, the S90 is a compelling, well-balanced choice.

Better Alternatives?

We’ve gone through what makes the Canon PowerShot S90 a great small camera: that fast f/2.0 lens, RAW files, and real manual controls in a pocketable body. It’s a sweet spot for street and travel shooters who want better image quality than a basic point‑and‑shoot without lugging a bigger camera.

If you need something different—better video, faster autofocus, or a big leap in image quality—there are a few modern compacts that push the S90’s strengths in new directions. Below are three real-world alternatives I’ve used and how they compare to the S90 for everyday shooting.

Alternative 1:

Sony ZV-1 II Camera

Designed for creators, this lightweight vlogging camera delivers fast autofocus, clear directional audio, a flip-out screen and crisp 4K video—perfect for on-the-go content, livestreams and confident storytelling.

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Used in the field, the Sony ZV-1 II feels made for modern shooters who need reliable autofocus and great video. Compared to the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera, the ZV-1 II nails moving subjects and focus transitions — it tracks faces and eyes smoothly, and its flip-out screen and built-in directional mic make talking-to-camera shots a breeze. In low light it outperforms the S90 too, giving cleaner images thanks to a newer, larger sensor and better noise handling.

Where the ZV-1 II loses to the S90 is in discreetness and the tactile manual feel. The S90’s control ring and simple manual dials make quick exposure changes fast and pleasant; the ZV-1 II leans toward menus and on-screen controls, so if you love twisting a ring to change settings you might miss that. Also, the ZV-1 II has a different, more “creator” layout—bigly optimized for video rather than the S90’s still-first design.

If you make video, vlog, or shoot a lot of handheld moving subjects, the ZV-1 II will likely suit you better than the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera. If you’re a street photographer who wants small size and tactile manual control above all, the S90 still has an edge.

Alternative 2:

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Camera

Compact powerhouse with a large 1-inch sensor, bright zoom lens, vertical video support and livestream-friendly connectivity—built for vloggers and social creators who demand rich detail and effortless sharing.

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The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III feels like a modern sibling to the S90: it keeps a compact body and easy handling but adds a much better sensor and solid 4K video. In real shooting, you’ll notice sharper detail and better high-ISO shots than the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera, and the flip-up screen is far more useful for composing low or selfie-style shots. Live streaming and vertical video features also make sharing footage easier straight from the camera.

The G7 X Mark III isn’t perfect compared to the S90. It’s slightly larger and heavier, so it won’t slide into a pocket as comfortably, and while it has manual controls, I still preferred the S90’s simple control ring for instant adjustments out on the street. Battery life can be short during long runs of video, and if you’re buying purely for the smallest possible carry, the S90 feels more pocket-friendly.

If you want a compact that boosts stills and video without moving up to an interchangeable-lens camera, the G7 X Mark III is a great choice. Pick it if you shoot mixed photo/video work or create content for social platforms. If your priority is the smallest, most tactile everyday carry for stills, the S90 remains appealing.

Alternative 3:

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II Camera

Premium rangefinder-style compact featuring a large micro four thirds sensor, versatile fast zoom, tactile manual controls and 4K capture—engineered for photographers who prioritize image quality and creative flexibility.

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The Panasonic LX100 II is the closest thing to trading up from the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera without going full mirrorless. In real use its larger Micro Four Thirds sensor gives noticeably richer tones, cleaner high-ISO files, and more control over depth of field than the S90’s small CCD. The lens and the body feel very camera‑like, with dials and rings that make manual shooting fast and enjoyable—great for deliberate street or portrait work.

What you give up compared to the S90 is pure pocketability and simplicity. The LX100 II is thicker and heavier, so it’s less likely to live in a jeans pocket. It also has a different reach and handling — the lens is a great all-around performer, but if you want the smallest, most inconspicuous shooter for quick snaps the Canon PowerShot S90 Camera still wins. The LX100 II also costs more, so it’s a bigger investment.

Choose the LX100 II if image quality and tactile controls matter most and you don’t mind a slightly bigger camera. It’s for photographers who want a compact that behaves more like a proper camera. If you need the tiniest, simplest carry with a fast lens and manual ring, stick with the S90.

What People Ask Most

Conclusion

The Canon PowerShot S90 Camera is a rare pocketable tool that actually feels designed for photographers rather than casual snapshots. Its combination of a bright lens, tactile manual controls and serious still-image performance makes it a joy to shoot with on the street or on trips. For anyone who values image-making over bells and whistles, it still holds up remarkably well.

That said, the S90 exposes its age in action and video work, with sluggish autofocus, a restrained burst mode and only very basic handheld movie capability. The fixed rear screen and quirky flash mechanism further limit versatility in bright light and fast-paced situations. If you need modern hybrid performance or smooth, high-resolution video, this is not the camera for you.

Viewed honestly, the S90 offers tremendous value for street, travel and landscape shooters who prioritize size, ergonomics, handling and RAW-capable stills over video features. It rewards thoughtful shooting and post-processing, but asks you to accept clear compromises in speed, convenience and multimedia. Buy it if photography is your primary goal; skip it if you want a fast, video-first compact.

Canon PowerShot S90 Camera

Pocket-sized enthusiast camera with bright f/2 lens, manual controls, RAW support and excellent low-light performance—ideal for street and travel photographers seeking superior image quality without sacrificing portability.

Check Price