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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290

Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Released January 2018
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
  • Introduced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Panasonic GH5S and Sony W290, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GH5S (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty similar but the GH5S (Four Thirds) and W290 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GH5S was announced 9 years later than the W290 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the GH5S scores versus the W290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Sony W290

 GH5S W290 
IntroducedJanuary 2018February 2009Fresher by 109 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k230kCrisper screen (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Panasonic GH5S

 W290 GH5S 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5S and Sony W290

 GH5S W290 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH5S features physical measurements of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) and the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GH5S and Sony W290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the GH5S and the W290.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH5S and W290 is 62 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by going over a spec sheet. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GH5S and W290.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH5S using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony W290 will deliver greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern GH5S will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH5S
Portrait photography with Sony W290
62
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
68
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH5S as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
56
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
61
weather proof
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
57
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
63
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse function
41
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH5S
Vlogging with Sony W290
68
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
features face detect focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone support
does not have image stabilization
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5S and Sony W290
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5SSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2018-01-08 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine 10 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3680 x 2760 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 51200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,620 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 660g (1.46 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 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 440 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Dual 1
Retail pricing $2,498 $230