Canon A490 vs Olympus E-5

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Canon A490 and Olympus E-5, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the E-5 (12MP) is fairly similar but the A490 (1/2.3") and E-5 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The A490 was unveiled 13 months earlier than the E-5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Canon A490 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the A490 grades vs the E-5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot A490 and Olympus E-5. The full galleries are available at Canon A490 Gallery and Olympus E-5 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 enjoys physical 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 Olympus E-5 has proportions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Canon A490 and Olympus E-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the A490 vs the E-5.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A490 and E-5 is 93 and 58 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The visual below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and E-5.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A490 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-5 will offer extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older A490 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.