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Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290

Portability
88
Imaging
34
Features
44
Overall
38
Leica D-LUX 5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Leica D-LUX 5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 66 x 43mm
  • Launched September 2010
  • Renewed by Leica D-Lux 6
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
  • Launched February 2009
Photography Glossary

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Leica D-LUX 5 and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Leica and Sony. The resolution of the D-LUX 5 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the D-LUX 5 (1/1.63") and W290 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The D-LUX 5 was revealed 20 months after the W290 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the D-LUX 5 grades vs the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica D-LUX 5 over the Sony W290

 D-LUX 5 W290 
LaunchedSeptember 2010February 2009Newer by 20 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Leica D-LUX 5

 W290 D-LUX 5 

Common features in the Leica D-LUX 5 and Sony W290

 D-LUX 5 W290 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Leica D-LUX 5 has got exterior measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica D-LUX 5 and Sony W290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the D-LUX 5 against the W290.

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D-LUX 5 and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The pic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the D-LUX 5 and W290.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The D-LUX 5 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony W290 will show greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images way more aggressively. The more recent D-LUX 5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
40
you can focus manually
exports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
27
manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 Street photography advice
Sony W290 Street photography advice
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition (271g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica D-LUX 5 Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
59
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (271g)
MP count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica D-LUX 5
Landscape photography with Sony W290
52
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
missing Timelapse recording
41
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica D-LUX 5
Vlogging with Sony W290
29
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
more heavy than competition (271g)
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Leica D-LUX 5 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica D-LUX 5 and Sony W290
 Leica D-LUX 5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model Leica D-LUX 5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-09-21 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-90mm (3.8x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-3.3 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 4.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.20 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 66 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $799 $230