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Canon A490 vs Nikon L21

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 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
Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2010
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Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Canon A490 versus Nikon L21, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and L21 (8MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A490 was revealed within a month of the L21 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the A490 grades vs the L21 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Nikon L21

 A490 L21 

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon A490

 L21 A490 
Display resolution230k115kClearer display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Nikon L21

 A490 L21 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010February 2010Similar age
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.5"2.5"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 comes with outside 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 Nikon L21 has proportions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Canon A490 versus Nikon L21 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the A490 compared to the L21.

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A490 and L21 is 93 and 93 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and L21.

Clearly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon A490 to offer you more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography info
Nikon L21 Portrait photography info
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
18
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 as a Street photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Street photography camera
46
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A490
Sports photography with Nikon L21
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
15
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography advice
Nikon L21 Travel photography advice
50
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography factors
Nikon L21 Landscape photography factors
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse function
21
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A490
Vlogging with Nikon L21
21
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone socket
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Canon A490 vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot A490Nikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Nikon Coolpix L21
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-01-05 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 8MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 5 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 115k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175g (0.39 lb) 169g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model 2 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $99 $180