Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the S2 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very well matched but the S2 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The S2 was released 20 months after the A290 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the S2 matches up against the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic S2 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic S2 enjoys outer dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs) while the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the S2 versus the A290.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the S2 and A290 is 96 and 66 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The image here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the S2 and A290.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have the same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The S2 offers the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult. The fresher S2 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.