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Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched October 2019
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
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Nikon Z50 versus Sony W290, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and W290 (12MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The Z50 was manufactured 10 years after the W290 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the Z50 scores versus the W290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Sony W290

 Z50 W290 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2009More modern by 130 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Nikon Z50

 W290 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Sony W290

 Z50 W290 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Nikon Z50 offers exterior dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) and 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).

Analyze the Nikon Z50 versus Sony W290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the Z50 and the W290.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and W290 is 74 and 94 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The pic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the Z50 and W290.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The Z50 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Nikon Z50 will provide more detail due to its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern Z50 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
80
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
27
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
73
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
environment proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (397g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z50
Sports photography with Sony W290
75
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
77
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (397 grams)
57
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
no image stabilization
41
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
71
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
includes face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (397 grams)
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Sony W290
 Nikon Z50Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z50 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2019-10-10 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 209 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Total lenses 15 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 397 grams (0.88 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 320 images -
Battery style Built-in -
Battery ID EN-EL25 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $857 $230