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Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
37
Overall
40

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 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
  • Introduced January 2010
Nikon S9500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-550mm (F) lens
  • 205g - 110 x 60 x 31mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon S9300
  • Newer Model is Nikon S9700
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Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Canon A490 versus Nikon S9500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Nikon. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and S9500 (18MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A490 was brought out 4 years prior to the S9500 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the A490 scores versus the S9500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Nikon S9500

 A490 S9500 

Reasons to pick Nikon S9500 over the Canon A490

 S9500 A490 
ReleasedJanuary 2013January 2010More recent by 37 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution614k115kSharper display (+499k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Nikon S9500

 A490 S9500 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon A490 offers 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) while the Nikon S9500 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Canon A490 versus Nikon S9500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the A490 against the S9500.

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A490 and S9500 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and S9500.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Nikon S9500 to offer you greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older A490 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography highlights
Nikon S9500 Portrait photography highlights
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
31
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Nikon S9500
46
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography info
Nikon S9500 Sports photography info
16
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
42
incredible zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography factors
Nikon S9500 Travel photography factors
50
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than competition (205 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (550mm)
good max aperture (f)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (230 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon S9500 as a Landscape photography camera
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
46
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery (230 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging factors
Nikon S9500 Vlogging factors
21
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
36
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (205g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
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Canon A490 vs Nikon S9500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Nikon S9500
 Canon PowerShot A490Nikon Coolpix S9500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Nikon Coolpix S9500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-01-05 2013-01-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 99
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-550mm (22.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 7.5 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 175g (0.39 pounds) 205g (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 110 x 60 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 - 230 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $99 $230