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Sony A200 vs Sony W290

Portability
66
Imaging
50
Features
38
Overall
45
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony A200
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 572g - 131 x 99 x 71mm
  • Announced July 2008
  • Successor is Sony A230
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 A200 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Sony A200 vs Sony W290, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A200 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very close but the A200 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The A200 was revealed 7 months prior to the W290 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A200 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the A200 matches up vs the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A200 over the Sony W290

 A200 W290 

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A200

 W290 A200 
LaunchedFebruary 2009July 2008Fresher by 7 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A200 and Sony W290

 A200 W290 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A200 enjoys outer measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 2.8") along with a weight of 572 grams (1.26 lbs) while the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

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Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A200 and the W290.

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A200 and W290 is 66 and 94 respectively.

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through technical specs. The graphic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A200 and W290.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A200 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony W290 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older A200 will be behind in sensor tech.

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A200 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A200 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
resolution not great (10MP)
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A200
Street photography with Sony W290
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A200
Sports photography with Sony W290
50
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A200
Travel photography with Sony W290
46
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
57
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A200 Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
54
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7")
does not have liveview
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
41
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A200 Vlogging features
Sony W290 Vlogging features
9
can't record video
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Sony A200 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A200 and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-07-17 2009-02-17
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3872 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 572 grams (1.26 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 99 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 2.8") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 521 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $100 $230