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Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 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
  • Released January 2010
Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS
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Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Canon A490 and Canon SD970 IS, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and they are both sold by Canon. The sensor resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the SD970 IS (12MP) is fairly similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A490 was unveiled 11 months later than the SD970 IS which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the A490 scores versus the SD970 IS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Canon SD970 IS

 A490 SD970 IS 
LaunchedJanuary 2010February 2009Fresher by 11 months

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Canon A490

 SD970 IS A490 
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k115kCrisper display (+346k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Canon SD970 IS

 A490 SD970 IS 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Canon A490 provides outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Canon SD970 IS has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Canon A490 and Canon SD970 IS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the A490 vs the SD970 IS.

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the A490 and SD970 IS is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The visual here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and SD970 IS.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can anticipate the Canon SD970 IS to offer more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger A490 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
26
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography factors
Canon SD970 IS Street photography factors
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
16
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Travel photography camera
50
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low MP (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography features
Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography features
22
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
32
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 as a Vlogging camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone port
28
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
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Canon A490 vs Canon SD970 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Canon SD970 IS
 Canon PowerShot A490Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Also called as - Digital IXUS 990 IS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-01-05 2009-02-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 37-185mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.2-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 115 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 175 grams (0.39 lbs) 160 grams (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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, Face) Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $99 -