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Canon G11 vs Sony W290

Portability
83
Imaging
33
Features
48
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot G11 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Canon G11
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 375g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Newer Model is Canon G12
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Released February 2009
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Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Canon G11 versus Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the G11 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very similar but the G11 (1/1.7") and W290 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The G11 was revealed 11 months after the W290 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the G11 scores against the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G11 over the Sony W290

 G11 W290 
ReleasedDecember 2009February 2009More modern by 11 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Canon G11

 W290 G11 
Display size3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon G11 and Sony W290

 G11 W290 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon G11 enjoys outside measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") and a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon G11 versus Sony W290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the G11 compared to the W290.

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the G11 and W290 is 83 and 94 respectively.

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specifications. The picture underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the G11 and W290.

To sum up, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G11 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony W290 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern G11 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon G11
Portrait photography with Sony W290
46
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon G11 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
64
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than others in class (375g)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon G11 Sports photography info
Sony W290 Sports photography info
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G11
Travel photography with Sony W290
56
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (375g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
57
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon G11
Landscape photography with Sony W290
46
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse recording
41
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon G11
Vlogging with Sony W290
59
reasonably wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (375g)
28
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Canon G11 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G11 and Sony W290
 Canon PowerShot G11Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot G11 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-12-16 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375g (0.83 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 169 not tested
Other
Battery ID NB-7L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $600 $230