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Canon A490 vs Canon G16

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Canon PowerShot G16 front
Portability
85
Imaging
38
Features
62
Overall
47

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Key Specs

Canon A490
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 175g - 94 x 62 x 31mm
  • Launched January 2010
Canon G16
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 356g - 109 x 76 x 40mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Replaced the Canon G15
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Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Canon A490 and Canon G16, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and they are both manufactured by Canon. The sensor resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the G16 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the A490 (1/2.3") and G16 (1/1.7") use different sensor sizes.

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The A490 was released 4 years before the G16 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the A490 matches up against the G16 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Canon G16

 A490 G16 

Reasons to pick Canon G16 over the Canon A490

 G16 A490 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2010Fresher by 47 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k115kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Canon G16

 A490 G16 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 features outside 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 G16 has dimensions of 109mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 1.6") with a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A490 and Canon G16 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the A490 compared to the G16.

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and G16 is 93 and 85 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specs. The visual here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and G16.

All in all, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A490 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Canon G16 will produce more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The older A490 will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography factors
Canon G16 Portrait photography factors
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
49
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 as a Street photography camera
Canon G16 as a Street photography camera
46
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
58
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (356 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Canon G16 as a Sports photography camera
16
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography features
Canon G16 Travel photography features
50
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
64
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than average in class (356 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Canon G16 as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
58
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 as a Vlogging camera
Canon G16 as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone support
33
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
more heavy than average in class (356 grams)
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Canon A490 vs Canon G16 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Canon G16
 Canon PowerShot A490Canon PowerShot G16
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Canon PowerShot G16
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-01-05 2013-11-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Digic 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 115k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT PureColor II G LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (tunnel)
Viewfinder coverage - 80 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175g (0.39 lbs) 356g (0.78 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 109 x 76 x 40mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 54
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 230
Other
Battery life - 360 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-10L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $99 $499