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Canon A490 vs Canon G12

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Canon PowerShot G12 front
Portability
83
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Key Specs

Canon A490
(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
  • 175g - 94 x 62 x 31mm
  • Revealed January 2010
Canon G12
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 401g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Older Model is Canon G11
  • New Model is Canon G15
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Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Canon A490 and Canon G12, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both of them are designed by Canon. The resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the G12 (10MP) is very comparable but the A490 (1/2.3") and G12 (1/1.7") posses different sensor size.

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The A490 was launched 12 months earlier than the G12 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the A490 matches up vs the G12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Canon G12

 A490 G12 

Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Canon A490

 G12 A490 
IntroducedJanuary 2011January 2010Fresher by 12 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions2.8"2.5"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k115kCrisper display (+346k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon A490 and Canon G12

 A490 G12 
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 has external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Canon G12 has proportions of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") having a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon A490 and Canon G12 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the A490 vs the G12.

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A490 and G12 is 93 and 83 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out technical specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and G12.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same MP but different sensor sizing. The A490 uses the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The older A490 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography information
Canon G12 Portrait photography information
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
47
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography highlights
Canon G12 Street photography highlights
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
64
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (401g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography details
Canon G12 Sports photography details
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery pack (370 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Canon G12 as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
60
better than average battery pack (370 CIPA)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (401 grams)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A490
Landscape photography with Canon G12
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inch)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
49
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (2.8 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (370 CIPA)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging features
Canon G12 Vlogging features
21
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
60
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (401 grams)
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Canon A490 vs Canon G12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Canon G12
 Canon PowerShot A490Canon PowerShot G12
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Canon PowerShot G12
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-01-05 2011-01-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 4
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 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.8-4.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.5" 2.8"
Resolution of display 115k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (tunnel)
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 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) 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 grams (0.39 pounds) 401 grams (0.88 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 47
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 161
Other
Battery life - 370 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-7L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Card slots One One
Price at release $99 $600