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Canon A490

 
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
  • 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
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Canon A490 overview

Canon A490 is Canon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first released on January of 2010. It features a 10 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 3648 x 2736.

The A490 stands at #258 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & all round #1259 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can test our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your custom factors.

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The following is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Canon A490 history

The Canon A490 has a history of related cameras. Down below, you can check out all past and current models as well as main features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-A1400 front thumbnailCanon A1400
A490 vs A1400
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-A2500 front thumbnailCanon A2500
A490 vs A2500
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Canon-PowerShot-A3500-IS front thumbnailCanon A3500 IS
A490 vs A3500 IS
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-A2300 front thumbnailCanon A2300
A490 vs A2300
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-A810 front thumbnailCanon A810
A490 vs A810
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-A3400-IS front thumbnailCanon A3400 IS
A490 vs A3400 IS
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Canon-PowerShot-A4000-IS front thumbnailCanon A4000 IS
A490 vs A4000 IS
28-224mm
F3.0-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-A1300 front thumbnailCanon A1300
A490 vs A1300
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-A2400-IS front thumbnailCanon A2400 IS
A490 vs A2400 IS
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-A1200 front thumbnailCanon A1200
A490 vs A1200
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-A3300-IS front thumbnailCanon A3300 IS
A490 vs A3300 IS
28-140mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Canon-PowerShot-A3200-IS front thumbnailCanon A3200 IS
A490 vs A3200 IS
28-140mm
F
14MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-A2200 front thumbnailCanon A2200
A490 vs A2200
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-A800 front thumbnailCanon A800
A490 vs A800
37-122mm
F3.0-5.8
10MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-A3100-IS front thumbnailCanon A3100 IS
A490 vs A3100 IS
35-140mm
F2.7-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-A3000-IS front thumbnailCanon A3000 IS
A490 vs A3000 IS
35-140mm
F2.7-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-A490 front thumbnailCanon A49037-122mm
F3.0-5.8
10MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-A495 front thumbnailCanon A495
A490 vs A495
37-122mm
F3.0-5.8
10MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-A1100-IS front thumbnailCanon A1100 IS
A490 vs A1100 IS
35-140mm
F2.7-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Canon-PowerShot-A2100-IS front thumbnailCanon A2100 IS
A490 vs A2100 IS
36-216mm
F3.2-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009

Canon A490 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of pros and cons of the Canon A490 based on features which are oftentimes seen as important in a digital camera.

built-in flash
good zoom range (37-122mm 3.3 x zoom)
very good min ISO (80)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
doesn't have HDMI port
doesn't have headphone port
doesn't have microphone port
doesn't have Timelapse recording
lack of aperture priority mode
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (10MP)
no articulating screen
no external flash support
no image stabilization
no manual focus
no phase detect autofocus
no RAW support
no shutter priority mode
pixelated screen (115 k dot)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
sluggish at full zoom (f5.8)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
wide angle not great (37mm)
Photography Glossary

Canon A490 Sensor specs

The sensor spec in the Canon A490 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 3648 x 2736 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9.

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The CCD sensor has 10MP and includes a standard ISO range of 80 - 1600. Unfortunately, RAW format is not saved so you have less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath illustrates the A490's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The A490 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

Canon PowerShot A490 sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon A490 dimensions

Canon A490 has a weight of 0.39 lbs (175 gr or 6.17 ounces) & has external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr so the Canon A490 is very similar when compared with other competitors.

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Down below is a shot of the Canon A490 next to a soda so you can get a feel for its size.

Canon PowerShot A490 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show you the button design on the A490.

Canon PowerShot A490 topview buttons dials

Canon A490 Lens details

The A490 has got a built-in lens offering a focal range of 37-122mm giving it a 3.3 x zoom which might not be very good however it may be invaluable in a few scenarios.

At it's widest 37mm, the lens has an aperture of f3.0 which is fairly sluggish and not the best for low light circumstances and you might find it difficult to get good bokeh. You could also have to up your ISO setting causing noisy shots. Towards the long end, 122mm comes to f5.8 making it really sluggish and you would have to set slower shutter speeds.

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Canon A490 Connectivity

The A490 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Cameras that have NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily send files and in some cases change settings with no need to connect physically with the camera.

Certain apps also allow a Liveview and press the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can easily be hooked up to an external display. Virtually all cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB port.

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Canon A490 Video details

The highest video resolution in the Canon A490 is 640 x 480 and you can record in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is low for today's standards. You should really go for at least 1080p resolution for decent video. The body doesn't include a microphone and / or headphone socket so you have got absolutely no control over the audio. It is probably best to look at an alternative model in case you want good audio for your videos.

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Canon A490 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing on the Canon A490 so you have to be cautious in wet or dusty situations.

Canon A490 Screen and Viewfinder

The Canon A490 features a 2.5" fixed screen having a resolution of 115k dots.

Please be aware that the screen has no touch support.

Canon PowerShot A490 screen and viewfinder President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The View Finder details for Canon A490 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

For sunny outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and tough to see, viewfinders will be pretty valuable.

Canon A490 Shutter details

Canon A490 continuous shooting rate is 1.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Canon A490 Flash and Hot shoe details

Canon A490 has just integrated flash with no external flash ability.

Canon A490 Autofocus details

Canon A490 has only Contrast Detect Auto Focus & does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more quicker and precise as compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing.

The Sensor features 5 focus points to select from. Canon A490 has no manual focus. Manual focus ability is good for low light occasions or you need to have more exact depth of field control.

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Canon A490 Battery life

The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 comes with the highest (470) battery life for this group of cameras.

Following is a list of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the strongest battery life:

Canon A490 for different forms of photography

The following chart gives a summation of the Canon A490 for different forms of photography. To understand more, check out the specific section underneath.

Canon A490 as a Portrait photography camera

The Canon A490 gets a points tally of 19 which is horrible, and means the camera is simply not acceptable to use for portrait photography. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimension, RAW support plus the ability to work with off-camera lighting.

Photography Glossary
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Street photography with Canon A490

With a reasonable rating of 46, the Canon A490 is fairly appropriate to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

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fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format

Canon A490 as a Sports photography camera

A horrible sports photography rating of 16 means the Canon A490 is simply not acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have excellent autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF

Canon A490 Travel photography info

Weight is very important when selecting a travel camera. On the whole, the Canon A490 gets a decent 50 as a travel camera which is fairly acceptable for your trips.

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flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)

Canon A490 Landscape photography features

For anybody planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the biggest factor will be image quality. The Canon A490 at it's horrible rating of 22 as a landscape camera is simply not acceptable among it's competitors.

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focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function

Canon A490 Vlogging factors

A camera for vlogging really should offer a articulating display, mic input and if possible image stabilization. Considering all the details, the Canon A490 is simply not acceptable for vlogging as it gets a horrible score of 21.

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wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone socket

Canon A490 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the A490, below is a list of the highest ranked cameras that fall in to the family of Small Sensor Compact.

The chart down below shows you a bird's eye view of the A490 versus it's highest ranked competitors shown earlier.

These are some more cameras you may have a look at as alternatives. To review a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot A490
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Introduced
2010-01-05
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
3648 x 2736
RAW data
Maximum native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
5
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
37-122mm (3.3x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.0-5.8
Macro focus range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
2.5 inches
Resolution of screen
115k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
15s
Highest shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed
1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
3.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
640x480
Video format
Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
175 grams (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions
94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2")
Other
Battery model
2 x AA
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Storage slots
1
Cost at launch
$99