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Canon A490 vs Leica C

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Leica C front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
59
Overall
45

Canon A490 vs Leica C 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
Leica C
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 195g - 103 x 63 x 28mm
  • Revealed September 2013
  • Also referred to as Typ112
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Canon A490 vs Leica C Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon A490 and Leica C, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Leica. The image resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the C (12MP) is very comparable but the A490 (1/2.3") and C (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The A490 was revealed 4 years prior to the C which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the A490 matches up versus the C in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Leica C

 A490 C 

Reasons to pick Leica C over the Canon A490

 C A490 
RevealedSeptember 2013January 2010More modern by 44 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k115kCrisper display (+805k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Leica C

 A490 C 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Leica C Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 has got external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Leica C has dimensions of 103mm x 63mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A490 and Leica C in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the A490 against the C.

Canon A490 vs Leica C size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and C is 93 and 92 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Leica C top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Leica C Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The image below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and C.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A490 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Leica C will produce extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged A490 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Leica C sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Leica C Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Leica C Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography factors
Leica C Portrait photography factors
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
42
manual focus
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography factors
Leica C Street photography factors
46
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Leica C as a Sports photography camera
16
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
38
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography highlights
Leica C Travel photography highlights
50
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
64
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Leica C as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
54
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 as a Vlogging camera
Leica C as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone support
39
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Canon A490 vs Leica C Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Leica C
 Canon PowerShot A490Leica C
General Information
Brand Name Canon Leica
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Leica C
Also called - Typ112
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-01-05 2013-09-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 5 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-200mm (7.1x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 115 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 1%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 7.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 175 grams (0.39 pounds) 195 grams (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 103 x 63 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 life - 250 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $99 $1,299