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Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Ricoh WG-6

20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Ricoh WG-6
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Canon SD990 IS

15 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SD990 IS
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Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Ricoh WG-6, which was introduced in February 2018 is a Waterproof camera with a 20.0MP 1/2.3 sensor whereas Canon SD990 IS, which was introduced in September 2008 is a Ultracompact camera with a 15.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. As you can see, SD990 IS is 10 years older than WG-6. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Ricoh WG-6 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-02-21
  • 20MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 246g. 118 x 66 x 33 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Ricoh WG-5 GPS Compare

Canon SD990 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2008-09-17
  • 15MP - 1/1.7-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 36-133 mm F2.8-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.50" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (tunnel) viewfinder
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 205g. 98 x 62 x 28 mm
  • Also known as Digital IXUS 980 IS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Ricoh WG-6 over Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
Internal Storage
27MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 15 MP 33% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3 vs 2.5" 0.5 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 230k dots 352% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/1600s faster mechanical shutter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Wide
28mm vs 36mm 8 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
140mm vs 133mm 7 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5x vs 3.7× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.50 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
5.5m vs 4.6m 0.9m longer range
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
CHECK WG-6 PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SD990 IS over Ricoh WG-6
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Viewfinder
Optical vs None Better framing and control
Weight
205 g vs 246 g 41 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Sensor Pixel Area
2.84µm2 vs 1.39µm2 104% larger pixel area
CHECK SD990 IS PRICE

Common Strengths of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Common Weaknesses of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.50" vs 2.50" Small display
Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Ricoh WG-6 has external dimensions of 118 x 66 x 33 mm (4.65 x 2.6 x 1.3″) and weighs 246 g (0.54 lb / 8.68 oz) (including batteries). Canon SD990 IS has external dimensions of 98 x 62 x 28 mm (3.86 x 2.44 x 1.1″) and weighs 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS. Canon SD990 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 20mm narrower, 4mm shorter and 5mm thinner than Ricoh WG-6.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS.
Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SD990 IS is significantly lighter (41g ) than the Ricoh WG-6 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

WG-6
SD990 IS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

WG-6
SD990 IS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of WG-6, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to SD990 IS.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh WG-6's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SD990 IS's 2.5" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS: Sensor Comparison

Ricoh WG-6 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Canon SD990 IS has a 15.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Ricoh WG-6's sensor provides 5MP more than Canon SD990 IS's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the WG-6 and SD990 IS sensor size comparison.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS Cameras


As seen above, Canon SD990 IS has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Ricoh WG-6. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Ricoh WG-6 features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5x zoom lens whereas Canon SD990 IS features a 36-133 mm F2.8-5.8 3.7× zoom lens.

Ricoh WG-6 has 8mm wider coverage than the Canon SD990 IS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Canon SD990 IS is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Ricoh WG-6 has 7mm longer reach than the Canon SD990 IS. At f5.50, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

WG-6
SD990 IS
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WG-6
SD990 IS
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WG-6
SD990 IS
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

WG-6
SD990 IS
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Ricoh WG-6 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SD990 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SD990 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon SD990 IS for Sports Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
9 Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
133 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SD990 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
246g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
205g
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
3.7X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SD990 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 vs Canon SD990 IS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Ricoh WG-6 and Canon SD990 IS scores compare:

Ricoh WG-6
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #67 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #539 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Canon SD990 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #38 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #924 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Ricoh WG-6 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SD990 IS in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Ricoh WG-6.

Ricoh WG-6
Ricoh WG-6
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CHECK PRICE

Canon SD990 IS
Canon SD990 IS
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Canon SD990 IS vs Ricoh WG-6 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Ricoh WG-6 Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
Brand Ricoh Canon
Announced 2018-02-21 2008-09-17
Body Type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 15 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 4416 x 3312
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5x) 36-133 mm (3.7×)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.5 F2.8-5.8
Macro Focus Range 1cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.50"
Resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Optical (tunnel)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.50 m (with Auto ISO) 4.60 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 640 x 480
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Supports FlashAir SD cards None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 246g 205g
Dimensions 118 x 66 x 33mm 98 x 62 x 28mm
Battery Life 340 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
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