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Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Launched January 2010
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
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Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A490 was brought out 3 years earlier than the HX20V which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the A490 scores against the HX20V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Sony HX20V

 A490 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Canon A490

 HX20V A490 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2010Newer by 30 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k115kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Sony HX20V

 A490 HX20V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 comes with outer 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 Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Examine the Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the A490 against the HX20V.

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A490 and HX20V is 93 and 90 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by going over specifications. The image here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A490 and HX20V.

To sum up, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony HX20V to offer you greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged A490 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography features
Sony HX20V Portrait photography features
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
45
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A490 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
46
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography details
Sony HX20V Sports photography details
16
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography features
Sony HX20V Travel photography features
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX20V Landscape photography factors
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5")
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
50
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging factors
Sony HX20V Vlogging factors
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
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Canon A490 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Sony HX20V
 Canon PowerShot A490Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-01-05 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 10MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 115k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 175g (0.39 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 320 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $99 $397