Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290
94 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
- 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
- Revealed January 2014
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
- Released June 2010
- Succeeded the Sony A230
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Overview
Here, we will be looking at the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony A290, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively close but the SZ8 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe SZ8 was announced 3 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SZ8 grades against the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ8 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony A290
SZ8 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2014 | June 2010 | Fresher by 44 months | |
Screen size | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
Screen resolution | 460k | 230k | Crisper screen (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic SZ8
A290 | SZ8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | More accurate focus |
Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony A290
SZ8 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
Selfie screen | Neither comes with selfie screen | |||
Touch screen | Neither comes with Touch screen |
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 comes with outer measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).
Analyze the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony A290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ8 versus the A290.
Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison
Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ8 and A290.
As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ8 having a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Panasonic SZ8 will render greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher SZ8 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2014-01-06 | 2010-06-09 |
Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine | 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 | 16MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Max boosted ISO | 6400 | - |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 24-288mm (12.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/3.1-6.3 | - |
Number of lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
Resolution of screen | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 8 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames/s | 3.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.20 m | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash modes | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 159 grams (0.35 lb) | 549 grams (1.21 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 66 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 22.6 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.5 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 615 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 200 shots | 290 shots |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Pricing at launch | $275 | $600 |