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Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 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 SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Launched January 2015
Photography Glossary

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and SZ10 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A490 was unveiled 6 years before the SZ10 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the A490 scores versus the SZ10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic SZ10

 A490 SZ10 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Canon A490

 SZ10 A490 
LaunchedJanuary 2015January 2010More recent by 60 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k115kSharper display (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic SZ10

 A490 SZ10 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Canon A490 enjoys exterior measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ10 has specifications of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the A490 and the SZ10.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and SZ10 is 93 and 93 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The visual underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and SZ10.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ10 to show extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older A490 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography info
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Panasonic SZ10
46
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
70
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (177 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Sports photography camera
16
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.4 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
lighter than competitors (177g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
41
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging highlights
21
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone support
32
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (177g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic SZ10
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-01-05 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 115 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
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) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (0.39 lbs) 177 gr (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 - 200 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $99 $200