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Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Revealed January 2010
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
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Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Canon A490 and Sony HX30V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A490 was revealed 3 years prior to the HX30V which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the A490 scores versus the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Sony HX30V

 A490 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Canon A490

 HX30V A490 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2010Newer by 26 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k115kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Sony HX30V

 A490 HX30V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon A490 offers outer 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 Sony HX30V 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).

Take a look at the Canon A490 and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the A490 compared to the HX30V.

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the A490 and HX30V is 93 and 90 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The picture here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A490 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony HX30V to give you extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A490 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
44
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Sony HX30V
46
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography factors
Sony HX30V Sports photography factors
16
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 Travel photography information
Sony HX30V Travel photography information
50
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than others (254g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
22
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
50
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging advice
Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
21
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic support
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (254g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Canon A490 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Sony HX30V
 Canon PowerShot A490Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-01-05 2012-02-28
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 resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
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)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 115k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 pounds) 254 grams (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 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 - 320 photos
Battery form - 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 shooting
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $99 $420