Clicky

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX260 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX280 HS
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
  • Announced February 2009
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Canon SX270 HS and Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX270 HS (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty close and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The SX270 HS was brought out 4 years after the W290 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the SX270 HS grades vs the W290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Sony W290

 SX270 HS W290 
AnnouncedMarch 2013February 2009More modern by 50 months
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Canon SX270 HS

 W290 SX270 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Sony W290

 SX270 HS W290 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX270 HS has got outer measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX270 HS and Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SX270 HS vs the W290.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX270 HS and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The pic underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX270 HS and W290.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the identical megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of images however you might want to take the age of the cameras into account. The fresher SX270 HS should have an edge in sensor tech.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
34
you can focus manually
supports face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
focusing manually
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Street photography advice
Sony W290 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
61
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (210 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
41
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
41
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Vlogging info
Sony W290 Vlogging info
34
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
28
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Sony W290
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-03-21 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233 grams (0.51 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $284 $230