Canon G16 vs Sony W290

Its time to look more closely at the Canon G16 and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The resolution of the G16 (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very similar but the G16 (1/1.7") and W290 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The G16 was announced 4 years later than the W290 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the G16 matches up versus the W290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot G16 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The whole galleries are available at Canon G16 Gallery and Sony W290 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon G16 features external dimensions of 109mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 1.6") and a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon G16 and Sony W290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the G16 against the W290.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the G16 and W290 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Generally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The photograph below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the G16 and W290.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature the identical MP but different sensor sizing. The G16 comes with the larger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern G16 should have an edge in sensor innovation.