Canon PowerShot A490

168 reviews

May, 2013

Positive
Usability (28)
Image quality (15)
Battery (15)
Low-light (6)
Zoom (4)

Negative
Shutter (4)
Viewfinder (3)
Features (2)
Storage (1)
Value for money (1)

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

alaTest has collected and analyzed 168 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the zoom and low light performance. The battery and image quality also get good views. There are mixed comments on the screen and performance, while the storage and value for money get critical opinions.

usability, image quality, battery, low-light, zoom

shutter, viewfinder, features, value for money, storage

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Canon PowerShot A490 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 88/100 = Very good quality.

See all Canon Digital Compact Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 168 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(46% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (29% of reviews)
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Features

Usability
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Battery
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Image quality
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More features

Showing 100 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 100 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (74)

Expert review by: Joshua Goldman (cnet.com)

Canon PowerShot A490 (Silver)

Canon updated 2009's PowerShot A480 by splitting it into two models: the A490 and A495. The PowerShot A490 is about $20 less expensive than the A495, but it's available in silver only; it has a 5-point Face AiAF autofocus system instead of the A495's...

Excellent photos for its price; reliable Auto mode.

Short battery life; low-resolution LCD; slow shooting performance; very basic features.

Though its feature set is light, the Canon PowerShot A490 is a very good choice for anyone on a tight budget who still wants excellent photo quality.

Mar, 2010

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Expert review by: steves-digicams.com (steves-digicams.com)

Canon PowerShot A490

The Canon PowerShot A490 is a compact, entry-level model featuring excellent image quality and a decent set of features for anyone on a budget.

Excellent image quality ; Powerful Built-in flash ; Decent SD Video capture ; Smart Auto shooting mode ; Incredibly easy to use

Low-Resolution 2.5-Inch LCD ; 640x480 max video resolution (No HD) ; Slow shooting performance

Feb, 2010

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Expert review by: Howard Creech (digitalcamerareview.com)

Canon PowerShot A490 Review

The Canon PowerShot A490 replaces the A480 at the low end of Canon's point-and-shoot lineup.

Very affordable ; Good, basic performance ; Consistently good images

Some ergonomics issues ; No image stabilization ; Minor lens distortion

At the ISO 400 setting (and higher) noise is noticeable and there's a perceptible loss of fine detail. Shutterbugs with realistic expectations should encounter few problems with the camera in auto ISO mode.

Aug, 2010

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Expert review by: (consumersearch.com)

Canon PowerShot A490 Review

Canon PowerShot A490 reviewed by ConsumerSearch, which notes pros and cons, along with reviews and ratings for the Canon PowerShot A490 and comparisons to other Cheap Digital Cameras

Simple to use; Good auto-shooting modes; Great photos for the money

No viewfinder or image stabilization; Slow shooting performance; Not great for low-light shots

May, 2010

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Expert review by: Ken McMahon (cameralabs.com)

Canon PowerShot A490 / A495

The Canon Powershot A495 is a 10 Megapixel budget compact with a 3.3x zoom lens and a 2.5in screen. Released in January 2010 it replaces the popular PowerShot A480. Though slightly restyled, the new camera closely resembles its predecessor, with the...

Apr, 2010

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Consumer review by: 8011259 (cnet.com)

"Great quality pictures for the price."

Definitely great if you're on a small budget and you still want a quality camera.

Photo quality

Battery Life

Jun, 2011

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Consumer review by: 8011259 (cnet.com)

Great quality pictures for the price.

Definitely great if you're on a small budget and you still want a quality camera.

Photo quality ; Simple ; Cheap

Battery Life

Jun, 2011

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Consumer review by: (amazon.com)

Amazon review summary for the Canon PowerShot A490

alaTest has collected and analyzed 17 user reviews of the Canon PowerShot A490 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other products on Amazon.com.

71% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

May, 2013

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Consumer review by: knitsnbytes (epinions.com)

Knock-about digital camera with a lot of features

IntroductionI have a wonderful Canon Rebel SLR digital camera (not the most recent, with under 10 megapixels) and it is a workhorse. But what about when you want to slip a camera into your pocket, and you don't want to take the SLR along ...

A lot of good features for a very inexpensive digicam

Slow, no included SD card, no rechargeable battery, no viewfinder

Jun, 2011

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Consumer review by: Bandit (newegg.com)

Great choice for the price

Purchased for our X-ray department to do photos of setups. It's such a nice camera that other folks are borrowing it and using it all over our plant. Based on the popularity we will be buying at least 2 more. This would be a great gift for anyone that...

Easy to use and handle. Picture quality is far better than I had expected at this price point. Auto funtions allow close-ups with the best image quality that I have ever seen in an entry level camera

Not sure that are any cons that you wouldn't find in any $100.00 range camera. Our folks are great at complaining and nobody's whined about it in more than 6 months

Nov, 2010

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Product Specifications

With its streamlined silhouette and smoothly-curved edges, the Canon PowerShot A490 has the compact sophistication and relaxed simplicity that make it a natural for beginners and everyone else who craves style and convenience. The 10.0-megapixel resolution and 3.3x optical zoom make it easy to capture the action in dazzling color and brilliant detail. The DIGIC III Image processor keeps it all looking sharp. A bright, bold 2.5-inch LCD makes shooting and playback a genuine pleasure.Affordable, easy and fun, the PowerShot A490 uses Canon know-how to let everyone take great 10.0-megapixel photos. Its compact, lightweight design slips easily into any pocket.