Canon ELPH 130 vs Sony A290

Here, we will be matching up the Canon ELPH 130 and Sony A290, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The resolution of the ELPH 130 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty close but the ELPH 130 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The ELPH 130 was launched 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon ELPH 130 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the ELPH 130 matches up vs the A290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon ELPH 130 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are provided at Canon ELPH 130 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon ELPH 130 provides outer dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Canon ELPH 130 and Sony A290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the ELPH 130 compared to the A290.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ELPH 130 and A290 is 96 and 66 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ELPH 130 and A290.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ELPH 130 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Canon ELPH 130 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The newer ELPH 130 should have an advantage in sensor tech.