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Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Leica V-Lux 20 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 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
  • Launched January 2010
Leica V-Lux 20
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched April 2010
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Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Leica. The image resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the V-Lux 20 (12MP) is relatively close and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A490 was manufactured 3 months before the V-Lux 20 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A490 scores versus the V-Lux 20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Leica V-Lux 20

 A490 V-Lux 20 

Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 20 over the Canon A490

 V-Lux 20 A490 
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k115kClearer screen (+346k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Leica V-Lux 20

 A490 V-Lux 20 
LaunchedJanuary 2010April 2010Same generation
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 offers physical measurements 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 Leica V-Lux 20 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

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Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A490 and the V-Lux 20.

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A490 and V-Lux 20 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by looking through specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and V-Lux 20.

To sum up, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Leica V-Lux 20 to result in more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera
Leica V-Lux 20 as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
21
no manual focus
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 as a Street photography camera
Leica V-Lux 20 as a Street photography camera
46
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A490
Sports photography with Leica V-Lux 20
16
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A490
Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 20
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
63
lighter than competition in class (218g)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Leica V-Lux 20 as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5")
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
38
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging highlights
Leica V-Lux 20 Vlogging highlights
21
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Canon A490 vs Leica V-Lux 20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Leica V-Lux 20
 Canon PowerShot A490Leica V-Lux 20
General Information
Make Canon Leica
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Leica V-Lux 20
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-01-05 2010-04-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 5 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175g (0.39 lb) 218g (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $99 $779