Clicky

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 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 SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and SZ7 (14MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The A490 was manufactured 24 months before the SZ7 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the A490 grades versus the SZ7 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic SZ7

 A490 SZ7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Canon A490

 SZ7 A490 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2010Newer by 24 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k115kClearer screen (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic SZ7

 A490 SZ7 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 offers outside dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ7 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the A490 compared to the SZ7.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and SZ7 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through specs. The picture here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and SZ7.

All in all, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic SZ7 to result in greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged A490 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
33
good megapixels (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography info
46
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
16
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A490
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ7
22
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging details
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
35
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Canon A490 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic SZ7
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-01-05 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 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 images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 5 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 115k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 175g (0.39 pounds) 133g (0.29 pounds)
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 - 220 shots
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
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $99 $199