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Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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
  • Released February 2009
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Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Panasonic F5 and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the F5 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The F5 was announced 3 years after the W290 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the F5 grades vs the W290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Sony W290

 F5 W290 
ReleasedJanuary 2013February 2009Newer by 48 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Panasonic F5

 W290 F5 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic F5 and Sony W290

 F5 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic F5 offers exterior measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst 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).

See the Panasonic F5 and Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the F5 vs the W290.

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the F5 and W290 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the F5 and W290.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic F5 to give extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The younger F5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic F5 Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
29
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic F5 Street photography features
Sony W290 Street photography features
56
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic F5 Sports photography highlights
Sony W290 Sports photography highlights
33
good MP (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic F5 Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
68
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
57
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic F5 Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
33
decently wide (28mm)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse mode
41
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic F5 Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
28
decently wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
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Panasonic F5 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic F5 and Sony W290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.70 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG 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 121 grams (0.27 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") 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
Battery life 250 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $100 $230