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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
VS
Sensor area
28 mm²
PowerShot A49028 mm²
Cyber-shot DSC-W170- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The PowerShot A490 and Cyber-shot DSC-W170 have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
PowerShot A490MetricCyber-shot DSC-W170
10 MPEffective pixels10.1 MP
6.16 × 4.62Sensor6.16 × 4.62
1.69 µmPixel pitch1.68 µm
2.85 µm²Pixel area2.82 µm²
35.14 MP/cm²Pixel density35.49 MP/cm²
5.62Crop factor5.62
—Maximum video—
135 gWeight173 g
SDHC, Secure DigitalStorageMemory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo
2 x AA batteries (Alkaline or NiMH)BatteryLithium-Ion (NP-BG1) 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 and Cyber-shot DSC-W170 have the same sensor area. The PowerShot A490 has the lighter body. The Cyber-shot DSC-W170 has the higher effective resolution. The PowerShot A490 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Cyber-shot DSC-W170
Released in 2008, Cyber-shot DSC-W170 has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 10.1 MP effective resolution, and a 173 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.