Canon A490 vs Panasonic TS4

Let's examine more in depth at the Canon A490 vs Panasonic TS4, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the TS4 (12MP) is pretty close and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A490 was brought out 3 years prior to the TS4 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the A490 scores versus the TS4 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot A490 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4. The entire galleries are viewable at Canon A490 Gallery and Panasonic TS4 Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 features 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) while the Panasonic TS4 has proportions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Canon A490 vs Panasonic TS4 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the A490 compared to the TS4.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and TS4 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and TS4.

Clearly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Panasonic TS4 to render more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older A490 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.