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Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Canon A490
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 175g - 94 x 62 x 31mm
  • Announced January 2010
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and S3 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A490 was released 12 months prior to the S3 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the A490 scores versus the S3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic S3

 A490 S3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon A490

 S3 A490 
ReleasedJanuary 2011January 2010Fresher by 12 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k115kCrisper display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic S3

 A490 S3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon A490 provides physical 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) whilst the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the A490 and the S3.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and S3 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and S3.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic S3 to result in greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older A490 will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Street photography camera
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
16
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A490
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competition (117g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography highlights
22
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
21
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone socket
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone support
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-01-05 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine IV
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 5 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 gr (0.39 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 250 photos
Style of battery - 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
Cost at release $99 $110