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Canon A490 vs Sony W290

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 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
  • Launched January 2010
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Canon A490 vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Canon A490 vs Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the A490 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty close and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A490 was introduced 11 months after the W290 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the A490 matches up vs the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Sony W290

 A490 W290 
RevealedJanuary 2010February 2009Newer by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Canon A490

 W290 A490 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k115kCrisper screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A490 and Sony W290

 A490 W290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon A490 has outer measurements 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 Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon A490 vs Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the A490 versus the W290.

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A490 and W290 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through a spec sheet. The image underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A490 and W290.

As you can see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony W290 to result in greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more recent A490 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
27
manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Sony W290
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography highlights
Sony W290 Sports photography highlights
16
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
41
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
21
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
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Canon A490 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Sony W290
 Canon PowerShot A490Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A490 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-01-05 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 115k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175g (0.39 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 model 2 x AA -
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 Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $99 $230