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Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 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
  • Launched January 2010
Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed November 2008
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX5
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon A490 versus Panasonic LX3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the LX3 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the A490 (1/2.3") and LX3 (1/1.63") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The A490 was unveiled 15 months later than the LX3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the A490 grades versus the LX3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic LX3

 A490 LX3 
RevealedJanuary 2010November 2008Fresher by 15 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Canon A490

 LX3 A490 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k115kCrisper screen (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic LX3

 A490 LX3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 has got physical measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX3 has dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Compare the Canon A490 versus Panasonic LX3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A490 vs the LX3.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and LX3 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The graphic below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and LX3.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The A490 includes the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF tougher. The fresher A490 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
40
you can focus manually
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Panasonic LX3
46
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/1.63")
more heavy than others (265g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX3 as a Sports photography camera
16
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography info
Panasonic LX3 Travel photography info
50
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (265 grams)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography features
Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography features
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
52
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LX3 as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
30
fairly wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than others (265 grams)
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic LX3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic LX3
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-01-05 2008-11-04
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 5 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 24-60mm (2.5x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.0-2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 115k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 8.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175g (0.39 lb) 265g (0.58 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 39
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 94
Other
Battery ID 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $99 $449