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Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
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Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Sony A290

 S2 A290 
LaunchedJanuary 2012June 2010More modern by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic S2

 A290 S2 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic S2 and Sony A290

 S2 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display size
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 size comparison

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

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic S2
Portrait photography with Sony A290
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S2 Street photography advice
Sony A290 Street photography advice
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (112g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S2 Sports photography details
Sony A290 Sports photography details
39
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
great battery power (280 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S2 Travel photography advice
Sony A290 Travel photography advice
70
great battery power (280 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (112 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
53
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (290 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S2 Landscape photography details
Sony A290 Landscape photography details
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
great battery power (280 shots)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
57
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview
terrible battery power (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (112 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic S2 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S2 and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-09 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 112 gr (0.25 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 615
Other
Battery life 280 images 290 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $109 $600