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Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Released January 2010
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Canon A490 and Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively close but the A490 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor size.

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The A490 was launched 4 years earlier than the MX-1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the A490 matches up against the MX-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Pentax MX-1

 A490 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Canon A490

 MX-1 A490 
IntroducedJuly 2013January 2010Fresher by 42 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k115kCrisper screen (+805k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Pentax MX-1

 A490 MX-1 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 features external 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) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A490 and Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the A490 and the MX-1.

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and MX-1 is 93 and 84 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing technical specs. The visual here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and MX-1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A490 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax MX-1 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older A490 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A490
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
42
focusing manually
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
46
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A490
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
16
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography features
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography features
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
61
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5")
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse recording
55
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (290 shots)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
21
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
no external microphone socket
33
pretty wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
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Canon A490 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Pentax MX-1
 Canon PowerShot A490Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-01-05 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 5 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 grams (0.39 lbs) 391 grams (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $99 $400