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Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

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

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS 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
  • Introduced January 2010
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Canon A490 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and WG-2 GPS (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A490 was unveiled 3 years before the WG-2 GPS which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the A490 grades against the WG-2 GPS for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 A490 WG-2 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Canon A490

 WG-2 GPS A490 
LaunchedFebruary 2012January 2010More modern by 25 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k115kSharper screen (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 A490 WG-2 GPS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 comes with outside 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 Pentax WG-2 GPS has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Examine the Canon A490 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the A490 compared to the WG-2 GPS.

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and WG-2 GPS is 93 and 91 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and WG-2 GPS.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Pentax WG-2 GPS to offer you greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged A490 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography advice
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
40
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Street photography camera
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
54
environment sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A490
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
16
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography info
50
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse function
47
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging info
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic jack
30
decently wide (28mm)
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon A490 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Canon PowerShot A490Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2010-01-05 2012-02-07
Body design 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 115 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 grams (0.39 lb) 198 grams (0.44 lb)
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 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 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $99 $300