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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(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
Sony A290
(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
Photography Glossary

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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony A290

 SZ8 A290 
ReleasedJanuary 2014June 2010Fresher by 44 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper 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 typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ8 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography features
Sony A290 Portrait photography features
35
good resolution (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
Street photography with Sony A290
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography features
Sony A290 Sports photography features
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ8
Travel photography with Sony A290
67
lighter than competition (159 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
53
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery power (290 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography features
Sony A290 Landscape photography features
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery power (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
58
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging features
Sony A290 Vlogging features
32
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (159g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony 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