This remarkably small 4x zoom Advanced Photo System camera is the first of its size to offer a high-performance lens with a wide zoom ratio. The Elph 490Z conceals its 22.5-90mm 4x zoom lens behind a swing-open cover and retains the "box and circle" construction of the original Elph, making it compact and nearly flat with the lift-up lens cover closed. The Elph 490Z is 40 percent smaller in volume and 20 percent lighter than the Sure Shot Z135, the most similar previous Canon model in terms of zoom ratio. It fits in almost any shirt pocket and weighs less than 11 ounces. Despite the Canon Elph 490Z's diminutive stature, its aluminum body feels sturdy.

The Canon Elph 490Z offers completely automatic operation and features a five-mode automatic flash with red-eye reduction, five-point hybrid Ai-AF Smart Autofocus, automatic film transport with drop-in loading, and a self-timer function. It also features Canon's exclusive Best Shot Dial, which offers six different shooting modes. The Best Shot Dial automatically combines several possible function settings to render ideal camera settings for specific types of shooting conditions and subject matter. The user simply sets the Best Shot Dial to the desired shooting mode, and the Elph 490Z takes care of everything else.

Another highlight of the Canon Elph 490Z is its parallax-compensation viewfinder. Since point-and-shoot cameras have a separate viewfinder and lens, often there is a significant difference (called parallax) between the viewfinder field and the actual image area captured by the lens during close-up photography. The Elph 490Z's automatic parallax-compensation function shifts the entire viewfinder image to compensate for this difference.

The Canon Elph 490Z, like all APS cameras, offers three print formats as well as date imprinting, caption options, and IX capabilities. While it does not offer midroll change, it does include midroll rewind.

Canon backs this camera with a one-year warranty.