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Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 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
  • Introduced January 2010
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Canon A490 and Pentax WG-2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and WG-2 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The A490 was announced 3 years earlier than the WG-2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the A490 matches up versus the WG-2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Pentax WG-2

 A490 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Canon A490

 WG-2 A490 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2010Fresher by 25 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k115kClearer display (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Pentax WG-2

 A490 WG-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Canon A490 has outside dimensions 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 Pentax WG-2 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

See the Canon A490 and Pentax WG-2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the A490 vs the WG-2.

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A490 and WG-2 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing specifications. The graphic here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the A490 and WG-2.

To sum up, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Pentax WG-2 to provide more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older A490 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A490
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-2
19
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
40
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Street photography factors
46
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
54
environment proofing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
16
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography advice
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography features
22
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
47
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging highlights
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging highlights
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
30
really wide (28mm)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Pentax WG-2
 Canon PowerShot A490Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Pentax Optio WG-2
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2010-01-05 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 115k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
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 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 gr (0.39 lbs) 192 gr (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA D-LI92
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 card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $99 $350