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Sony A9 vs Sony W690

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost 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 W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Sony A9 and Sony W690, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and W690 (16MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and W690 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The A9 was unveiled 5 years after the W690 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the A9 grades against the W690 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony W690

 A9 W690 
AnnouncedApril 2017February 2012Newer by 63 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kSharper display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony A9

 W690 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony W690

 A9 W690 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A9 offers external dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) and the Sony W690 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Sony A9 and Sony W690 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the A9 vs the W690.

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A9 and W690 is 65 and 95 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A9 and W690.

All in all, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A9 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A9 will offer greater detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern A9 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
83
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
34
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 Street photography info
Sony W690 Street photography info
79
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography information
Sony W690 Sports photography information
86
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
good battery life (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A9
Travel photography with Sony W690
73
good battery life (650 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
includes focus by touch
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
68
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A9
Landscape photography with Sony W690
85
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good battery life (650 per charge)
has dual storage slots
43
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging info
Sony W690 Vlogging info
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly display
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
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Sony A9 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony W690
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2017-04-19 2012-02-28
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ X BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 693 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,440k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic 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 673 gr (1.48 pounds) 142 gr (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 92 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3517 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photos 220 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Price at launch $4,498 $297