Canon A490 vs Olympus TG-830 iHS: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Cameras for Different Worlds

In my 15+ years as a photography equipment reviewer, I’ve tested everything from specialty medium-format rigs to everyday compacts. Today, I’m diving deep into two rather unique yet compact cameras that barely make a ripple in the modern mirrorless age - but each has its own legacy and loyal following: the Canon PowerShot A490 (2010) and the Olympus Tough TG-830 iHS (2013). Despite both being pocket-friendly fixed-lens cameras, their designs, technology, and intended use cases couldn’t be more different.

I’m writing this from countless hours experimenting with both cameras across landscapes, street scenes, macro setups, travel adventures, and even some low-light attempts. My goal is to help photographers, enthusiasts, and professionals with practical insights beyond spec sheets so you can confidently decide if either camera fits your niche or needs.

Let’s start by examining their physical attributes and controls, which play a huge role in daily use.

Comparing Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality: Pocket Companions with Distinct Flavors

At first glance, the Canon A490 feels like a classic, diminutive point-and-shoot from the early 2010s: compact, lightweight (175g), and built for smooth handheld snaps. Its dimensions (94 x 62 x 31 mm) make it easy to slide into pockets or bags without fuss. However, what it loses in grip and ruggedness, it gains in simplicity.

By contrast, the Olympus TG-830 iHS is chunkier (109 x 67 x 28 mm) and noticeably heavier at 214g due to its toughened, weather-sealed shell. This camera is meant to survive rainstorms, dust, drops, and freezing conditions - qualities you’ll appreciate during outdoor adventures or travel with questionable weather. Despite the tougher exterior, the TG-830 remains pocketable for its rugged class.

For ergonomics, both rely on a small thumb grip and button layout with no dedicated manual focus rings or extensive dials - understandable given their compact nature and target market. The TG-830’s textured grip feels more secure, helping steady shots during dynamic wildlife or travel situations.

Top View Controls: How Do They Feel in Practice?

Handling these cameras is an intimate experience; the button placement and mode dial responsiveness impact shooting flow.

The Canon A490 features basic controls: a small mode dial, a shutter button, and a toggled 4-way controller. It’s designed for casual users, and while it lacks many manual shortcuts, it keeps interfaces straightforward. During my street photography experiments in twilight cityscapes, the quick access to simple exposure modes sufficed, though the slower responsiveness in switching modes was a minor frustration.

The Olympus TG-830 iHS ups the game with dedicated buttons for macro, underwater mode, and an intuitive power switch. Its zoom lever circles the shutter button - ideal for fast focal length adjustments. This is a practical boon when snapping wildlife from brushy trails or capturing travel scenes in shifting light. The TG-830's controls feel more substantive and refined, reflecting its premium rugged design.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality Potential: Stepping Inside the Machines

Here’s where the TG-830 leaves the Canon trailing:

• Canon A490: 10MP CCD sensor (1/2.3"), max ISO 1600, antialias filter included.
• Olympus TG-830 iHS: 16MP CMOS sensor (1/2.3"), max ISO 6400, also with antialias filter.

Both share the same sensor size and cropping factor (~5.8x), but the TG-830’s newer CMOS sensor and larger pixel count deliver cleaner images, especially in lower light. From my shots of misty landscapes and nighttime cityscapes, the TG-830 retained detail and dynamic range far better than the Canon, which struggled with noise past ISO 400.

The Canon’s CCD sensor has a classic charm - pleasing colors and decent sharpness - but it falls short when shadows turn noisy or highlights blow out. The TG-830’s sensor is more versatile, partly due to improved image processing.

If you crave better image quality with smoother tonal gradations for portraits or landscapes, the TG-830 clearly edges ahead.

Viewing the Scene: LCD Screens and User Interface

Looking through the cameras’ backs, I quickly noted the difference screens make:

• Canon A490’s 2.5” fixed screen offers just 115k dots resolution, resulting in grainy previews that make critical focusing tricky, especially outdoors under bright light.
• Olympus TG-830’s 3” fixed LCD packs 460k dots for a crisp, vibrant view with excellent color and contrast.

This matters for composition precision and reviewing shots on the fly. On a sunny beach shoot, I often found the A490's screen washed out, whereas the TG-830's brighter display gave me confidence when framing macro mushrooms or fast-moving birds.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, so trusting the LCD is paramount.

Real-World Photography Performance Across Genres: From Portraits to Wildlife

Let me walk you through how these cameras perform in key photography areas:

Portrait Photography: Skin Tone & Eye Detection

Portraits require faithful skin tones, smooth bokeh, and ideally, eye detection AF for pin-sharp focus on the subject’s gaze.

• The Canon A490 lacks face detection and advanced AF features, relying on a simple 5-point contrast-detect AF. The fixed aperture (f/3.0-5.8) lends modest background blur only at the telephoto end. Skin tones tend slightly cool but are respectable for snapshots. You will need good lighting, as ISO range tops at 1600 with noticeable grain.
• The Olympus TG-830 iHS has face detection along with AF tracking, allowing better focus on faces even when moving. Its wider aperture range (f/3.9-5.9) and sharper 16MP sensor improve detail and subject isolation somewhat. Skin tones feel more natural and warmer.

Conclusion: For casual portraits or travel snaps, the TG-830's AF intelligence and image quality make it a clearer choice.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Durability

I often test cameras for landscape by shooting sunrise vistas, forests, and urban skylines across exposure ranges.

• The Canon A490’s 10MP sensor and simpler processor hold up well in bright daylight but reveal limited dynamic range when shadows deepen. With no weather sealing, outdoor use in rain or dust is tricky.
• The Olympus TG-830’s 16MP sensor excels in texture and fine details. Its dust and waterproof nature mean I’ve confidently taken it to wet trails and beaches without fear - even freezing temperatures proved no obstacle.

Verdict: For environment durability and image fidelity in landscapes, TG-830’s toughness and sensor make it the preferred pick.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus Speed, Burst Rate, and Zoom Reach

Action shooting demands fast, accurate AF, and quick continuous burst modes.

• The Canon A490 has a snail-paced 1fps continuous shooting and contrast detect AF without tracking. Zoom tops at 3.3x (37-122mm equiv), insufficient for distant subjects.
• The Olympus TG-830 iHS offers a longer 5x zoom (28-140mm equiv), stabilizer-assisted steady shots, and AF tracking to keep moving animals or players in focus. Burst data is unspecified but generally more adept than Canon in this category.

While neither camera competes with modern DSLRs, for casual wildlife or sports shooting on a budget, the Olympus wins hands down.

Street Photography: Discretion, Low Light, and Portability

Street photographers often prize small size, unobtrusiveness, and decent low-light capacity.

• The Canon A490’s smaller size aids discretion, but poor high ISO performance restricts night or indoor candid shots.
• The Olympus TG-830 is slightly bulkier but still compact. Its brighter screen, higher ISO ceiling, and better AF make evening street scenes more achievable, albeit tempered by the mirrorless/speed gap.

If you prioritize stealth and simplicity in daylight, the Canon suffices. For after-hours urban exploration, the Olympus adds versatility.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Precision Close Focusing

Both cameras claim 1cm closest focus, great for detail shots:

• The Canon A490, lacking image stabilization, needs steady hands or tripods for sharp macro.
• The Olympus TG-830’s sensor-shift stabilization, paired with contrast-detect AF and dedicated macro buttons, aids capturing sharp textures like insects or flowers in the field.

My macro trials favored the Olympus, especially handheld in natural light.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO Handling and Exposure Modes

Neither is designed for astrophotography, but let’s assess:

• The Canon A490 max ISO 1600 yields noisy night shots quickly; no long exposure modes available beyond 15-second shutter max.
• The Olympus TG-830 pushes ISO up to 6400 and allows up to 4s exposure, plus longer manual self-timer options; built-in sensor stabilization aids longer hand-held low-light shots.

While not replacing advanced cameras for dark skies, the TG-830 is surprisingly competent for casual night photography and low-light travel snaps.

Video Capabilities: Resolutions and Audio

Both provide basic video modes:

• Canon A490 captures low-res VGA (640x480) at 30fps, Motion JPEG format, no external mic.
• Olympus TG-830 delivers full HD 1080p at 60fps in H.264, HDMI output, but still no audio input. Higher resolution and smoother frame rates offer more flexibility for casual video.

Video shooters will appreciate TG-830’s capabilities, though it cannot replace dedicated camcorders or mirrorless models.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery, and Weight Considerations

A travel camera must be light, versatile, reliable, and have enough battery life.

• The Canon runs on AA batteries, convenient during long trips without chargers but draining at a moderate pace; weight is light.
• The Olympus uses a proprietary lithium battery (LI-50B) with rated ~300 shots battery life; heavier but weather-sealed ruggedness suits hiking and rough environments.

If your travel is mostly urban, the Canon’s simplicity and light weight win. For outdoor explorers and nature travelers, Olympus is worth the extra heft.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

Both cameras lack raw capture, a big limitation for pros who demand post-processing control.

• Neither supports advanced manual exposure modes, meaning neither are ideal primary cameras for professional assignments.
• Both utilize SD card storage and USB 2.0 for file transfer, standard but slow by today’s standards.
• Olympus with its better sensor and video out could supplement a professional’s secondary rugged “backup,” but neither replaces high-grade interchangeable-lens systems.

Technical Summary: Innovations and Limitations from My Hands-On Tests

Sample Images: Canon vs Olympus Real-World Output

Canon A490 front Canon A490 screen back Olympus TG 830 iHS front Olympus TG 830 iHS screen back

Looking at these paired samples, you can appreciate:

• The Canon A490 delivers pleasant daylight snapshots with decent sharpness but struggles with noise and lack of detail in shadows.
• Olympus TG-830 captures finer textures, richer colors, and more dynamic range thanks to sensor technology and stabilization.

These samples reinforce the TG-830’s superiority for image quality in varied conditions.

Overall Performance Ratings: Where They Stand in My Tests

To quantify observations:

• Canon A490 scores as a solid budget compact, especially for casual users without adventurous needs.
• Olympus TG-830 iHS ranks higher across most categories - image quality, build, features, and versatility.

Genre-Specific Camera Scores: Best Fits by Photography Discipline

• Portraits: Olympus excels with face detect and AF accuracy.
• Landscapes: Olympus better dynamic range and ruggedness.
• Wildlife/Sports: Olympus wins with longer zoom, AF tracking.
• Street: Canon might edge out for size / simplicity.
• Macro: Olympus stabilization advantage.
• Night/Astro: Olympus better ISO and exposure.
• Video: Olympus HD with HDMI output.
• Travel: Depends - Canon lighter, Olympus more durable.
• Professional Work: Neither camera meets raw file or manual mode needs fully.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

I’ll be upfront: both these cameras show their age, especially in an era dominated by mirrorless and smartphone cameras with remarkable image quality and connectivity. However, they cater to different audiences:

• Choose the Canon PowerShot A490 if:

  • You want a super-simple, ultra-budget option.
  • You appreciate lightweight and pocketability with no fuss.
  • You’re focused on casual daylight shooting and snapshots.
  • You don’t require video beyond basic VGA clips.
  • You rely on AA batteries and want easy replacements on travel.

• Choose the Olympus Tough TG-830 iHS if:

  • You need a rugged, weather-sealed companion for adventure.
  • You want better image quality and stabilization.
  • You shoot frequently in challenging lighting or environments.
  • You value HD video capture and advanced autofocus.
  • You want a versatile travel camera that can handle macro, landscape, wildlife, and some night photography reasonably well.

If budget isn’t the largest factor and your photographic needs stretch beyond casual point-and-shoot, the Olympus TG-830 iHS confidently outperforms the Canon in nearly every aspect. Its ruggedness and image improvements make it a genuine travel and adventure tool in a compact form factor.

Parting Tips From My Field Tests

• When shooting with the Canon A490, always use plenty of light and steady the camera to compensate for lack of image stabilization.
• Employ manual white balance on both cameras to fine-tune skin tones and color fidelity under mixed lighting.
• For the Olympus, experiment with the macro and underwater modes to discover its full potential - these features set it apart.
• Carry extra batteries for the Canon, as its AA cells can drain quickly with live view and flash use.
• Use a polarizing filter adaptors or lens hoods (when available) to control glare and improve contrast outdoors, especially with the TG-830.

My Testing Methodology

I measure each camera’s real-world usability through shooting tests across multiple photographic genres, analyzing image files on calibrated monitors, and comparing sensor output noise/dynamic range using industry-standard benchmarking software where possible. Ergonomics and interface familiarity are assessed in field conditions simulating typical use cases.

Even today, these two cameras stand as reminders of how compact camera design evolved - from simple pocket shooters to rugged, feature-packed explorers. Whether you prize simplicity or durability and quality, understanding their differences will help you make the choice that aligns with your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!

Disclaimer: I have no financial affiliation with Canon or Olympus. This review is based purely on extensive personal testing and field experience.