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Canon A810 vs Sony W290

Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
26
Overall
33
Canon PowerShot A810 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Canon A810
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 171g - 95 x 62 x 30mm
  • Announced February 2012
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Canon A810 versus Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the A810 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A810 was revealed 3 years after the W290 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the A810 grades vs the W290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A810 over the Sony W290

 A810 W290 
LaunchedFebruary 2012February 2009More modern by 37 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Canon A810

 W290 A810 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon A810 and Sony W290

 A810 W290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon A810 offers outside dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 30mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 171 grams (0.38 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A810 versus Sony W290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the A810 and the W290.

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A810 and W290 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The image below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A810 and W290.

All in all, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Canon A810 to give you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer A810 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A810 Portrait photography info
Sony W290 Portrait photography info
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
has manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A810 Street photography information
Sony W290 Street photography information
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A810 Sports photography info
Sony W290 Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A810 Travel photography info
Sony W290 Travel photography info
65
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A810 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
38
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
41
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A810 Vlogging info
Sony W290 Vlogging info
31
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Canon A810 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A810 and Sony W290
 Canon PowerShot A810Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot A810 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 171 grams (0.38 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 62 x 30mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images -
Form of battery AA -
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $99 $230