Clicky

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Canon A490
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 175g - 94 x 62 x 31mm
  • Released January 2010
Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-410
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Canon A490 and Olympus E-420, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the E-420 (10MP) is fairly close but the A490 (1/2.3") and E-420 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor sizes.

Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

The A490 was brought out 19 months after the E-420 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon A490 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the A490 scores against the E-420 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Olympus E-420

 A490 E-420 
LaunchedJanuary 2010June 2008More modern by 19 months

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Canon A490

 E-420 A490 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k115kSharper display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Olympus E-420

 A490 E-420 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon A490 provides exterior dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Olympus E-420 has sizing of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Canon A490 and Olympus E-420 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A490 vs the E-420.

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A490 and E-420 is 93 and 77 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A490 and E-420.

As you can see, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The A490 uses the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF tougher. The newer A490 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
57
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Olympus E-420
46
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (426g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A490
Sports photography with Olympus E-420
16
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
39
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery (500 CIPA)
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
53
lighter than others in class (426g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (500 per charge)
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
47
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery (500 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
9
no video recording
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Canon A490 vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Olympus E-420
 Canon PowerShot A490Olympus E-420
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Olympus E-420
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-01-05 2008-06-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 5 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 45
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 115k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175g (0.39 lb) 426g (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 56
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 527
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $99 $999