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Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 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 ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
Photography Glossary

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A490 was unveiled 3 years prior to the ZS15 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A490 scores vs the ZS15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic ZS15

 A490 ZS15 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Canon A490

 ZS15 A490 
ReleasedJune 2012January 2010Newer by 30 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k115kCrisper display (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic ZS15

 A490 ZS15 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 features exterior dimensions 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 ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 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 depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A490 versus the ZS15.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A490 and ZS15 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The picture here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A490 and ZS15.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS15 to produce more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged A490 will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography information
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography details
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography information
16
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography features
50
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery (260 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography info
22
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5")
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
37
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery (260 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging information
21
wide angle not the best (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no mic port
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Canon A490 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic ZS15
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-01-05 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 5 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 115k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 grams (0.39 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $99 $279