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Sony A7S vs Sony W290

Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65
Sony Alpha A7S front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • New Model is Sony A7S II
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
  • Launched February 2009
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Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Sony A7S vs Sony W290, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A7S (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very well matched but the A7S (Full frame) and W290 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The A7S was revealed 5 years after the W290 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the A7S grades against the W290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Sony W290

 A7S W290 
LaunchedApril 2014February 2009Newer by 63 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k230kClearer display (+1000k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A7S

 W290 A7S 

Common features in the Sony A7S and Sony W290

 A7S W290 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A7S provides outside dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony A7S vs Sony W290 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the A7S and the W290.

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A7S and W290 is 77 and 94 respectively.

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking technical specs. The picture here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A7S and W290.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The A7S includes the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The more recent A7S should have an edge in sensor technology.

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7S Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
68
you can focus manually
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A7S
Street photography with Sony W290
76
screen tilts
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
lighter than average in class (489 grams)
good high ISO (409,600)
lack of image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A7S
Sports photography with Sony W290
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (360 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A7S
Travel photography with Sony W290
58
lighter than average in class (489g)
weather sealing
not so great battery pack (360 shots)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
57
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7S Landscape photography features
Sony W290 Landscape photography features
66
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
great sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (409,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (360 per charge)
41
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A7S
Vlogging with Sony W290
34
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
lighter than average in class (489 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Sony A7S vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7S and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha A7SSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7S Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-04-06 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.9mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 855.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4240 x 2832 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 409600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch 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 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 489g (1.08 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 87 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3702 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,998 $230