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Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Ricoh WG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 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
  • Revealed January 2010
Ricoh WG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2014
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Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by companies Canon and Ricoh. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and WG-4 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A490 was unveiled 5 years before the WG-4 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the A490 grades against the WG-4 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Ricoh WG-4

 A490 WG-4 

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Canon A490

 WG-4 A490 
LaunchedFebruary 2014January 2010More modern by 49 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k115kSharper display (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Ricoh WG-4

 A490 WG-4 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Canon A490 has got external dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Ricoh WG-4 has specifications of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the A490 versus the WG-4.

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and WG-4 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A490 and WG-4.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Ricoh WG-4 to provide more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A490 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography details
Ricoh WG-4 Portrait photography details
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
41
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography factors
Ricoh WG-4 Street photography factors
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography details
Ricoh WG-4 Sports photography details
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (240 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography advice
Ricoh WG-4 Travel photography advice
50
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
72
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
low battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography info
Ricoh WG-4 Landscape photography info
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
54
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery power (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A490
Vlogging with Ricoh WG-4
21
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone jack
36
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
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Canon A490 vs Ricoh WG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Ricoh WG-4
 Canon PowerShot A490Ricoh WG-4
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Ricoh
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Ricoh WG-4
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2010-01-05 2014-02-05
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 10.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 175g (0.39 pounds) 230g (0.51 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" 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 - 240 shots
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 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $99 $330