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Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Introduced January 2010
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX77
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Canon A490 and Panasonic FX78, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A490 was revealed 12 months prior to the FX78 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the A490 grades vs the FX78 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic FX78

 A490 FX78 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Canon A490

 FX78 A490 
RevealedJanuary 2011January 2010More recent by 12 months
Screen dimensions3.5"2.5"Bigger screen (+1")
Screen resolution230k115kClearer screen (+115k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic FX78

 A490 FX78 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon A490 offers exterior measurements 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 Panasonic FX78 has specifications of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Canon A490 and Panasonic FX78 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the A490 compared to the FX78.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and FX78 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at specifications. The photograph below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and FX78.

Plainly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should count on the Panasonic FX78 to resolve more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older A490 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography info
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
21
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Panasonic FX78
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography advice
16
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,400s)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography information
Panasonic FX78 Travel photography information
50
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery (200 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography details
22
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
36
fairly wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A490
Vlogging with Panasonic FX78
21
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
33
fairly wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic FX78
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FX77
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-01-05 2011-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 5 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3.5 inch
Display resolution 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1400 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 grams (0.39 lbs) 142 grams (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $99 $210