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Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 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
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon A490 and Panasonic FZ40, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and FZ40 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A490 was launched 6 months before the FZ40 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon A490 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the A490 matches up against the FZ40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic FZ40

 A490 FZ40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Canon A490

 FZ40 A490 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k115kClearer screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic FZ40

 A490 FZ40 
RevealedJanuary 2010July 2010Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Canon A490 enjoys external measurements 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 Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Look at the Canon A490 and Panasonic FZ40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A490 vs the FZ40.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A490 and FZ40 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the difference in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and FZ40.

Clearly, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic FZ40 to provide greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography information
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
16
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography info
50
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (494g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography advice
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
51
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging information
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging information
21
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic support
23
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
heavier than competition (494 grams)
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic FZ40
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-01-05 2010-07-21
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 5 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 115 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 gr (0.39 lb) 494 gr (1.09 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $99 $420