Reasons to choose PowerShot A490
Released in 2010, PowerShot A490 has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 10 MP effective resolution, and a 135 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon PowerShot A490
vs Nikon Coolpix P80
VS
Sensor area
28 mm²
PowerShot A49028 mm²
Coolpix P80- Area ratio
- 1.03:1
- Absolute difference
- 1 mm²
- Relative difference
- 2.6%
The PowerShot A490 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
PowerShot A490MetricCoolpix P80
10 MPEffective pixels10.1 MP
6.16 × 4.62Sensor6.08 × 4.56
1.69 µmPixel pitch1.66 µm
2.85 µm²Pixel area2.75 µm²
35.14 MP/cm²Pixel density36.43 MP/cm²
5.62Crop factor5.69
—Maximum video—
135 gWeight365 g
SDHC, Secure DigitalStorageMultiMedia, SDHC, Secure Digital
2 x AA batteries (Alkaline or NiMH)BatteryNikon EN-EL5 Lithium-Ion Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The PowerShot A490 has the larger sensor area. The PowerShot A490 has the lighter body. The Coolpix P80 has the higher effective resolution. The PowerShot A490 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Coolpix P80
Released in 2008, Coolpix P80 has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 10.1 MP effective resolution, and a 365 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.