Pentax W90 vs Sony A300

Below, we will be reviewing the Pentax W90 and Sony A300, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the W90 (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the W90 (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The W90 was brought out 2 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the W90 grades against the A300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio W90 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. The entire galleries are viewable at Pentax W90 Gallery & Sony A300 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax W90 has exterior measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony A300 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Pentax W90 and Sony A300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the W90 versus the A300.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the W90 and A300 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out technical specs. The photograph here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the W90 and A300.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The W90 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax W90 will provide more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern W90 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.