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Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced September 2010
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S8100 (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very close and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S8100 was manufactured 19 months later than the W290 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the S8100 matches up versus the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Sony W290

 S8100 W290 
IntroducedSeptember 2010February 2009Fresher by 19 months
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Nikon S8100

 W290 S8100 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Common features in the Nikon S8100 and Sony W290

 S8100 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon S8100 enjoys external dimensions of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the S8100 vs the W290.

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S8100 and W290 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S8100 and W290.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical resolution so you can expect comparable quality of photographs however you will need to consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The newer S8100 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S8100 Portrait photography info
Sony W290 Portrait photography info
26
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
27
focusing manually
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S8100 Sports photography details
Sony W290 Sports photography details
38
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S8100 Travel photography factors
Sony W290 Travel photography factors
55
flash built-in
great reach (300mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
32
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
41
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
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Nikon S8100 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S8100 and Sony W290
 Nikon Coolpix S8100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S8100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-09-08 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 30-300mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 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 180 grams (0.40 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $299 $230