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Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
13
Overall
25
Canon PowerShot A480 front
 
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Key Specs

Canon A480
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 140g - 92 x 62 x 31mm
  • Released January 2009
Canon SD990 IS
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-133mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 205g - 98 x 62 x 28mm
  • Revealed September 2008
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 980 IS
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Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS, both Ultracompact digital cameras and both are sold by Canon. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the A480 (10MP) and SD990 IS (15MP) and the A480 (1/2.3") and SD990 IS (1/1.7") feature totally different sensor size.

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The A480 was released 4 months after the SD990 IS so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the A480 grades against the SD990 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A480 over the Canon SD990 IS

 A480 SD990 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Canon A480

 SD990 IS A480 
Display resolution230k115kSharper display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A480 and Canon SD990 IS

 A480 SD990 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2009September 2008Similar generation
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.5"2.5"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you should factor its weight and size. The Canon A480 provides physical dimensions of 92mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Canon SD990 IS has specifications of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the A480 compared to the SD990 IS.

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A480 and SD990 IS is 94 and 92 respectively.

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over a spec sheet. The pic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A480 and SD990 IS.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A480 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Canon SD990 IS will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively.

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A480 Portrait photography features
Canon SD990 IS Portrait photography features
25
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
37
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
MP count good (15MP)
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A480 Street photography info
Canon SD990 IS Street photography info
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (205 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A480 Sports photography advice
Canon SD990 IS Sports photography advice
16
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (15MP)
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A480 Travel photography features
Canon SD990 IS Travel photography features
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
57
MP count good (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
more heavy than competitors in class (205g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A480 Landscape photography information
Canon SD990 IS Landscape photography information
22
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
34
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A480 as a Vlogging camera
Canon SD990 IS as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
27
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (205 grams)
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Canon A480 vs Canon SD990 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A480 and Canon SD990 IS
 Canon PowerShot A480Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A480 Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
Also called as - Digital IXUS 980 IS
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Released 2009-01-15 2008-09-17
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4416 x 3312
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 5 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 36-133mm (3.7x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (tunnel)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 secs 1/500 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 140 grams (0.31 lbs) 205 grams (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 62 x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/MMC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $210 -