Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS Review
(also known as the Canon Powershot SD790 IS)

Review Date: May 5th 2008
Author: Gavin Stoker

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Page 1
Introduction / Ease of Use
Page 2
Image Quality
Page 3
Sample Images
Page 4
Design
Page 5
Specifications
Page 6
Conclusion

Specifications

IMAGE SENSOR
Type
Effective Pixels Approx.10.0M
Colour Filter Type Primary Colour
IMAGE PROCESSOR
Type DIGIC III with iSAPS technology
LENS
Focal Length 6.2 � 18.6 mm (35mm equivalent: 35 � 105mm)
Zoom Optical 3x. Digital approx. 4x � (with Digital Tele-Converter approx. 1.4x or 2.3x and Safety Zoom �)�. Combined approx. 12x
Maximum f/number f/2.8 � f/4.9
Construction 6 elements in 5 groups (1 double sided aspherical UA element, 1 single sided UA element)
Image Stabilisation Yes (shift-type)
FOCUSING
Type TTL
AF System / Points AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point), 1-point AF (fixed to centre or Face Select and Track)
AF Point Selection Size (Normal, Small)
AF Lock On/Off Selectable
AF Assist Beam Yes
Closest Focusing Distance 3cm (W) from front of lens in macro
EXPOSURE CONTROL
Metering Modes Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame), Centre-weighted average, Spot (centre)
AE Lock On/Off Selectable
Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
ISO Sensitivity* AUTO, High ISO Auto (incorporating Motion Detection Technology), 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
SHUTTER
Speed 1/60 - 1/1500 sec (factory default) 15 - 1/1500 sec (total range - varies by shooting mode)
WHITE BALANCE
Type TTL
Settings Auto (including Face Detection WB), Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom
LCD MONITOR
Monitor 3.0� PureColor LCD II (TFT), approx. 230,000 dots
Coverage 100%
Brightness Adjustable to one of fifteen levels
FLASH
Modes Auto, Manual Flash On / Off
Slow Sync Speed Yes
Red-eye Reduction Yes
Flash Exposure Compensation Face Detection FE
Flash Exposure Lock Yes
Built-in Flash Range 30cm - 3.5m (W) / 2.0m (T)
External Flash Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1
SHOOTING
Modes Auto, Manual, Digital Macro, Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch Assist, Movie, Special Scene (Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Sunset, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200�)
Photo Effects My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)
Drive Modes Single, Continuous, Self-Timer
Continuous Shooting Approx. 1.4 shots/sec.� (until memory card becomes full)�
RECORDING PIXELS / COMPRESSION
Image Size (L) 3648 x 2736, (M1) 2816 x 2112, (M2) 2272 x 1704, (M3, Date Stamp) 1600 x 1200, (S) 640 x 480, (W) 3648 x 2048. Resize in playback (M3, S, 320 x 240)
Compression Superfine, Fine, Normal
Movies (L)640 x 480, 30fps/30fps(LP)
(M)320 x 240, 30fps
(S)160 x 120, 15fps
(Time Lapse) 640 x 480, 0.5/1fps (Playback 15fps)
Movie Length Up to 4GB or 1 hour (L and M)�
Up to 3 mins (S)�
Up to 120 mins (Time Lapse)�
FILE TYPES
Still Image Type JPEG compression, (Exif 2.2 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system, Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
Movies AVI [Motion JPEG compression + WAVE (monaural)]
Sound Files WAVE (monaural)
DIRECT PRINT
Canon Printers Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and Canon Inkjet Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Fixed Size Print and Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP & ES printers only)
PictBridge Yes
OTHER FEATURES
Red-Eye Correction Yes, during shooting and playback
My Camera Start-up image and camera sounds customisation
My Category Image tagging feature
Sound Memo Up to 60 sec per image
Intelligent Orientation Sensor Yes
Histogram Yes
Playback Zoom Approx. 2x � 10x
Self Timer Approx. 2 or 10 sec. or Custom
Menu Languages English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Chinese (traditional), Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Ukrainian, Romanian
INTERFACE
Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP) dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)
Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)
MEMORY CARD
Type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus. 32MB memory card supplied
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM
PC Macintosh Windows 2000 SP4 / XP SP2 / Vista
Mac OS X v10.3 - 10.4
SOFTWARE
Browsing & Printing ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser
Other PhotoStitch
Drivers TWAIN (2000)
POWER SOURCE
Batteries Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-5L (battery and charger supplied)
Battery Life Approx. 330 shots�
Approx. 420 min. playback
AC Power Supply Optional, AC adapter kit ACK-DC30
ACCESSORIES
Case Soft Leather Case DCC-60, Digital IXUS Metal or Leather Strap
Waterproof / Weatherproof Case Waterproof Case (40m) WP-DC24, Waterproof Case Weight WW-DC1
Flash High Power Flash HF-DC1
Power Supply & Battery Chargers AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC30
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Operating Environment 0 � 40 �C, 10 � 90% humidity
Dimensions 91.6 x 56.8 x 20.9mm (excluding protrusions)
Weight (body only) Approx. 155g
Zoom � Depending on the image size selected.
� Digital zoom available for still image and standard movie modes only. Optical zoom may not be available during movie recording.
Modes � Recording pixels fixed at 1600 x 1200.
Continuous Shooting � Under conditions where the flash does not fire.
� Depending on memory card speed / capacity.
Movie Length � Depending on memory card speed / capacity.
Battery Life � Using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera, except where indicated.
All data is based on Canon standard testing methods (according to CIPA Standards) except where indicated.
Subject to change without notice.
*Standard Output Sensitivity / Recommended Exposure Index. According to ISO 12232:2006 (20th April 2006)
which specifies the method for assigning and reporting ISO speed ratings for digital still cameras.
 
Page 1
Introduction / Ease of Use
Page 2
Image Quality
Page 3
Sample Images
Page 4
Design
Page 5
Specifications
Page 6
Conclusion

DIWAPhotographyBLOG is a member of the DIWA organisation. Our test results for the Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS have been submitted to DIWA for comparison with test results for different samples of the same camera model supplied by other DIWA member sites.

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