The Canon Powershot G11 was widely anticipated by underwater photographers - but the Canon Powershot S90 is smaller, lighter and seems to do the same job for a cheaper price. Which one to choose?
I recently wrote about the Canon Powershot G11 and its WP-DC34 underwater housing
, describing how it was one of the most anticipated cameras by underwater photographers for some time. Canon's G series have brought a whole new level of image quality to compact cameras and get a lot of hype as a result. I'm personally in the market for a new compact camera myself too, so I was poised to buy one - until I heard about the Canon Powershot S90.
Canon Powershot S90
The current price for the Canon Powershot S90 is $399 on Amazon and $174 for the Canon WP-DC35 S90 Underwater Housing on Amazon - that's at least $50 cheaper than the Canon G11. Yet the camera has a full-sized image sensor (sort of), a f2.0 zoom for low light, and shoots RAW format photos. So it basically seems to do everything the Canon G11 can do.
Canon WP-DC35 S90 Underwater Housing
The clincher for me is that the S90 is smaller and lighter - possibly small enough to fit in a BCD pocket. Similarly, on land the S90 can fit in your pocket comfortably whereas the G11 is quite bulky. I am going to wait until I get to play with an S90 -- I'm sure there will be someone on my next dive trip - but I am pretty sure this could be the compact camera I will buy next. If you've been using an S90 underwater, please let me know your thoughts, good or bad, about it.
You can browse the latest Ebay auctions for the Canon Powershot S90 and Underwater Housing WP-DC35 below:
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 62" TRIPOD Canon PowerShot G11 G10 S90 SX20 SX1 D10 G9  US $22.95
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 62" TRIPOD Canon PowerShot G11 G10 S90 SX20 SX1 D10 G9 US $22.95
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 Cleaning Cloth for Canon PowerShot D10 S90 G11 SX20 IS US $16.95
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 Cleaning Cloth for Canon PowerShot S90 G11 SD3500 IS US $9.95
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 62" TRIPOD Canon PowerShot G11 G10 S90 SX20 SX1 D10 G9 US $22.95
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 53” Tripod for Canon PowerShot G11 G10 S90 SX20 SX1 D10 US $14.95
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 Canon Powershot S90 Digital Camera w/3.8x Optical Zoom US $399.00
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 62" TRIPOD Canon PowerShot G11 G10 S90 SX20 SX1 D10 G9 US $22.95
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 Canon PowerShot S90 10MP Digital Camera +BTY+ gifts -us US $416.99
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 A0319 Canon PowerShot S90+16GB SD+Bat+Gift+2YrWty S-90 US $478.02
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 A0317 Canon PowerShot S90+Bat+Gift+2YrWty S-90 US $442.77
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 New InvisibleShield For Canon Powershot S90 (Full Body) US $5.00
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 Car Charger for Canon PowerShot D10,S90................ US $7.20
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 Canon PowerShot S90 10MP Brand New Free Shipping US $439.00
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 3x SCREEN PROTECTORS CANON POWERSHOT S90 DIGITAL CAMERA US $5.99
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 A0318 Canon PowerShot S90+8GB SD+Bat+Gift+2YrWty S-90 US $460.82
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 50” Tripod for Canon PowerShot G11 G10 S90 SX20 SX1 US $12.95
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 NEW Canon PowerShot S90 10.0MP 4xoptic Digital Camera US $448.99
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 Neck Strap for Canon PowerShot S90 US $9.98
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 Canon PowerShot S90 10 MegaPixel in Mint conditions US $100.00
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 A0319 Canon PowerShot S90+16GB SD+Bat+Gift+2YrWty S-90 US $478.02
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 A0383 Canon PowerShot S90+4GB SD+Bat+Gift+2YrWty S-90 US $453.34
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 A0319 Canon PowerShot S90+16GB SD+Bat+Gift+2YrWty S-90 US $478.02
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 NB-6L Car Charger for Canon PowerShot D10,SD770 IS,S90. US $7.49
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 NB-6L Car Charger for Canon PowerShot D10,SD770 IS,S90. US $6.49
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 BRAND NEW !! Canon PowerShot S90 Camera USA Warranty US $379.75
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 Canon PowerShot S90 10MP IS Digital Camera +Kit NEW USA US $422.95
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 ProTama Crystal MC UV Filter for Canon PowerShot S90 US $21.95
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 Crystal MC UV Protection Filter for Canon PowerShot S90 US $21.95
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 Canon Powershot S90 Digital Camera US $399.00
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Latest Ebay auctions for Canon S90 Underwater Housing WP-DC35
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 New Canon waterproof case WP-DC35 for PowerShot S90 US $232.00
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 Underwater Flash Strobe for Canon WP-DC28 WP-DC35 US $249.00
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 Canon WP-DC35 for Canon S90 - Underwater Case BRAND NEW US $195.99
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 Canon WP-DC35 Waterproof Case PowerShot S90 Camera NEW US $211.95
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 Canon WP-DC35 Case for Canon PowerShot S90 Housing US $179.95
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 Canon WP-DC35 Marine case for Powershot S90 BRAND NEW US $199.99
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 Canon WP-DC35 Waterproof Case PowerShot S90 Camera NEW US $169.95
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 CANON WP-DC35 Waterproof Housing for S90 WPDC-35 DC-35 US $260.62
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 Canon WP-DC35 Waterproof Case PowerShot S90 Camera NEW US $199.95
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Buy Used Scuba Diving Equipment On Ebay - View Current Items On Offer:
- Canon IXUS 800 / Powershot SD700 Underwater Camera
- Canon G11 Powershot Camera and WP-DC34 Underwater Housing
- Canon PowerShot A540 Digital Camera and WP-DC2 Underwater Camera Housing
- Canon Powershot SD620 Digital Camera and Underwater Housing
- Canon IXUS 700 / Powershot SD500 Digital Camera and Underwater Housing
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It is good price for this kit, but I think there is big con of this case – you can’t use flash.
The cases for the compact cameras always tend to block the flash to some extent, but it does seem to vary quite a lot – I’d certainly like to see it in the water before I buy it.
Hi Chris,
Do you have any idea where I can find UW strobes in Bangkok? (I am thinking of the Inon S2000, but it doesn’t matter that much) I’d like to buy the S90 with the DC35 housing, which is quite easy to find, but have been unlucky with the strobes so far. I have notably been to MBK and Pantip and did not find any.
Thanks in advance!
John
Hi John
try Pro Dive Imaging (location on the site) – they are an Inon dealer, but don’t think they keep much in stock – probably need to order for you. Best, Chris