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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was brought out 4 years after the W290 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ8 matches up against the W290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony W290

 SZ8 W290 
RevealedJanuary 2014February 2009More modern by 60 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Panasonic SZ8

 W290 SZ8 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony W290

 SZ8 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 offers physical dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions 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 SZ8 versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ8 vs the W290.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and W290 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The picture here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and W290.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ8 to resolve greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The more recent SZ8 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography information
Sony W290 Portrait photography information
35
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
Street photography with Sony W290
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
Sports photography with Sony W290
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography info
Sony W290 Travel photography info
67
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
57
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
41
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (159g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
28
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony W290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-01-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $275 $230