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Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9300 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 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 S9300
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 215g - 109 x 62 x 31mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Nikon S9100
  • Updated by Nikon S9500
Photography Glossary

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and S9300 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A490 was launched 3 years earlier than the S9300 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the A490 matches up vs the S9300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Nikon S9300

 A490 S9300 

Reasons to pick Nikon S9300 over the Canon A490

 S9300 A490 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2010More recent by 30 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k115kSharper display (+806k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Nikon S9300

 A490 S9300 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Canon A490 features outside 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) and the Nikon S9300 has specifications of 109mm x 62mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the A490 versus the S9300.

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A490 and S9300 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing specifications. The photograph here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and S9300.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon S9300 to provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older A490 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A490
Portrait photography with Nikon S9300
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
35
MP count decent (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Nikon S9300
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (215 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography information
Nikon S9300 Sports photography information
16
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S9300 as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
66
lighter than competitors in class (215g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A490
Landscape photography with Nikon S9300
22
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
41
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A490
Vlogging with Nikon S9300
21
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic port
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (215g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Canon A490 vs Nikon S9300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Nikon S9300
 Canon PowerShot A490Nikon Coolpix S9300
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Nikon Coolpix S9300
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-01-05 2012-07-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 5 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 115k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 6.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 gr (0.39 lbs) 215 gr (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 109 x 62 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 life - 200 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $99 $249