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Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
35
Overall
33
Ricoh CX2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Ricoh CX2
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Revealed August 2009
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Ricoh CX2 versus Sony W290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Ricoh and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the CX2 (9MP) and W290 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The CX2 was released 7 months later than the W290 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the CX2 scores versus the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX2 over the Sony W290

 CX2 W290 
IntroducedAugust 2009February 2009Fresher by 7 months
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Ricoh CX2

 W290 CX2 

Common features in the Ricoh CX2 and Sony W290

 CX2 W290 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Ricoh CX2 has physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Ricoh CX2 versus Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the CX2 and the W290.

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the CX2 and W290 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the CX2 and W290.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony W290 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer CX2 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh CX2
Portrait photography with Sony W290
25
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
MP count low (9MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Street photography info
Sony W290 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (185g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh CX2
Sports photography with Sony W290
26
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Travel photography factors
Sony W290 Travel photography factors
66
lighter than competitors in class (185g)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
long reach (300mm)
MP count low (9 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Landscape photography factors
Sony W290 Landscape photography factors
42
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
41
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX2 Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
30
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (185g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
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Ricoh CX2 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX2 and Sony W290
 Ricoh CX2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh CX2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-20 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Smooth Imaging Engine IV -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 9MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3456 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-300mm (10.7x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m (ISO 400) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 grams (0.41 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model DB-70 -
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $341 $230