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Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
34
Overall
33
Ricoh CX4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Ricoh CX4
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched August 2010
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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Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Ricoh CX4 versus Sony W290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the CX4 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very comparable and they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The CX4 was introduced 19 months later than the W290 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the CX4 scores vs the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX4 over the Sony W290

 CX4 W290 
RevealedAugust 2010February 2009More recent by 19 months
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Ricoh CX4

 W290 CX4 

Common features in the Ricoh CX4 and Sony W290

 CX4 W290 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh CX4 has got outside dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh CX4 versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the CX4 against the W290.

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the CX4 and W290 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The graphic below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the CX4 and W290.

All in all, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony W290 to produce greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher CX4 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh CX4 Portrait photography info
Sony W290 Portrait photography info
26
you can focus manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh CX4 as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (205 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX4 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh CX4 Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
66
lighter than competitors (205g)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (300mm)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
57
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh CX4
Landscape photography with Sony W290
42
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
41
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX4 Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (205g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
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Ricoh CX4 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX4 and Sony W290
 Ricoh CX4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh CX4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-08-19 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Smooth Imaging Engine IV -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-300mm (10.7x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings 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
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 205 gr (0.45 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 59 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 Overall 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 ID DB-100 -
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $211 $230