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 S520
VS
Sensor area
28 mm²
PowerShot A49025 mm²
Coolpix S520- Area ratio
- 1.15:1
- Absolute difference
- 4 mm²
- Relative difference
- 14.6%
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 S520
10 MPEffective pixels8 MP
6.16 × 4.62Sensor5.75 × 4.32
1.69 µmPixel pitch1.76 µm
2.85 µm²Pixel area3.11 µm²
35.14 MP/cm²Pixel density32.21 MP/cm²
5.62Crop factor6.02
—Maximum video—
135 gWeight115 g
SDHC, Secure DigitalStorageSDHC, Secure Digital
2 x AA batteries (Alkaline or NiMH)BatteryLithium-Ion (EN-EL10) 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 Coolpix S520 has the lighter body. The PowerShot A490 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 S520
Released in 2008, Coolpix S520 has about 25 mm² of sensor area, 8 MP effective resolution, and a 115 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.