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Sony A9 vs Sony W290

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Replacement is Sony A9 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 A9 vs Sony W290 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Sony A9 vs Sony W290, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and W290 (12MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and W290 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The A9 was revealed 8 years after the W290 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the A9 matches up vs the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony W290

 A9 W290 
LaunchedApril 2017February 2009Newer by 100 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kCrisper display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A9

 W290 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony W290

 A9 W290 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A9 features physical measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) while the Sony W290 has proportions 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 out the Sony A9 vs Sony W290 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the A9 vs the W290.

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A9 and W290 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specifications. The image below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A9 and W290.

To sum up, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A9 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A9 will give you greater detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger A9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 Portrait photography highlights
Sony W290 Portrait photography highlights
83
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
79
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography advice
Sony W290 Sports photography advice
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery pack (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 Travel photography highlights
Sony W290 Travel photography highlights
73
good battery pack (650 per charge)
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
MP count good (24 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
57
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
85
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
good battery pack (650 per charge)
two card slots
41
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
Photography Glossary

Sony A9 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2017-04-19 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.6 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,440k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 673 gr (1.48 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 92 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 3517 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FZ100 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Two 1
Retail pricing $4,498 $230