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Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
Portability
81
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS 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
  • Announced January 2010
Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Released July 2014
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Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS Overview

Here, we are comparing the Canon A490 versus Canon SX400 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Canon. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and SX400 IS (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A490 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the SX400 IS which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the A490 grades versus the SX400 IS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Canon SX400 IS

 A490 SX400 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Canon A490

 SX400 IS A490 
ReleasedJuly 2014January 2010More modern by 55 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k115kClearer display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Canon SX400 IS

 A490 SX400 IS 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon A490 has outer dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Canon SX400 IS has sizing of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon A490 versus Canon SX400 IS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the A490 and the SX400 IS.

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the A490 and SX400 IS is 93 and 81 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and SX400 IS.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon SX400 IS to offer you greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged A490 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography features
Canon SX400 IS Portrait photography features
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography information
Canon SX400 IS Street photography information
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
52
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography information
Canon SX400 IS Sports photography information
16
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
42
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (190 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography info
Canon SX400 IS Travel photography info
50
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (190 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX400 IS as a Landscape photography camera
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
41
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (190 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A490
Vlogging with Canon SX400 IS
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Canon A490 vs Canon SX400 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Canon SX400 IS
 Canon PowerShot A490Canon PowerShot SX400 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Canon PowerShot SX400 IS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-01-05 2014-07-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Digic 4+
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 115 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 grams (0.39 lb) 313 grams (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 190 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-11LH
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 One One
Pricing at release $99 $229