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Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS 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
  • Introduced January 2010
Canon SD940 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 120g - 89 x 55 x 20mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 120 IS
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Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon A490 and Canon SD940 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are designed by Canon. The resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the SD940 IS (12MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A490 was released 5 months after the SD940 IS so they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon A490 being a Compact camera and the Canon SD940 IS being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A490 scores versus the SD940 IS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Canon SD940 IS

 A490 SD940 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SD940 IS over the Canon A490

 SD940 IS A490 
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k115kClearer screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Canon SD940 IS

 A490 SD940 IS 
LaunchedJanuary 2010August 2009Similar age
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon A490 has got outside dimensions 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 SD940 IS has sizing of 89mm x 55mm x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Canon A490 and Canon SD940 IS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the A490 compared to the SD940 IS.

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and SD940 IS is 93 and 96 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and SD940 IS.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Canon SD940 IS to give extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography advice
Canon SD940 IS Portrait photography advice
19
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Canon SD940 IS
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography details
Canon SD940 IS Sports photography details
16
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography factors
Canon SD940 IS Travel photography factors
50
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
58
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography factors
Canon SD940 IS Landscape photography factors
22
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
32
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging information
Canon SD940 IS Vlogging information
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic socket
29
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon A490 vs Canon SD940 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Canon SD940 IS
 Canon PowerShot A490Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
Also called - Digital IXUS 120 IS
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-01-05 2009-08-19
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of display 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175g (0.39 lbs) 120g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 89 x 55 x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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-4L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Card slots One One
Cost at release $99 $299