Pentax W80 vs Sony A290

Below, we will be comparing the Pentax W80 vs Sony A290, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the W80 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the W80 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The W80 was launched 11 months before the A290 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the W80 matches up versus the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio W80 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are available at Pentax W80 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax W80 enjoys external dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Pentax W80 vs Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the W80 vs the A290.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the W80 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Often, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the W80 and A290.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The W80 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A290 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged W80 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.