Canon A490 vs Canon S100
93 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23


93 Imaging
36 Features
48 Overall
40
Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-120mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
- 198g - 99 x 60 x 28mm
- Introduced December 2011
- Earlier Model is Canon S95
- Later Model is Canon S110

Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Overview
Let's take a closer look at the Canon A490 vs Canon S100, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both of them are created by Canon. The sensor resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the S100 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the A490 (1/2.3") and S100 (1/1.7") possess different sensor measurements.

The A490 was unveiled 23 months before the S100 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the A490 scores versus the S100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot A490 and Canon PowerShot S100. The full galleries are provided at Canon A490 Gallery and Canon S100 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Canon S100
A490 | S100 |
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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Canon A490
S100 | A490 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | December 2011 | ![]() | January 2010 | More recent by 23 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 115k | Clearer screen (+346k dot) |
Common features in the Canon A490 and Canon S100
A490 | S100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch screen |
Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon A490 comes with 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) while the Canon S100 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).
Contrast the Canon A490 vs Canon S100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the A490 vs the S100.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A490 and S100 is 93 and 93 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing specifications. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and S100.
To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A490 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Canon S100 will produce more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older A490 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon S100 Specifications
Canon PowerShot A490 | Canon PowerShot S100 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Canon |
Model | Canon PowerShot A490 | Canon PowerShot S100 |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2010-01-05 | 2011-12-22 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Digic 5 |
Sensor type | CCD | 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 | 10MP | 12MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 5 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 37-122mm (3.3x) | 24-120mm (5.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.0-5.8 | f/2.0-5.9 |
Macro focus range | 1cm | 3cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 4.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Screen resolution | 115k dot | 461k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 seconds | 15 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0fps | 2.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 3.00 m | 7.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | - | 1/2000 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 640x480 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | H.264, Motion JPEG |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 175 gr (0.39 lbs) | 198 gr (0.44 lbs) |
Dimensions | 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") | 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 50 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 20.7 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.6 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 153 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 200 images |
Form of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | 2 x AA | NB-5L |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | One | One |
Cost at release | $99 | $429 |