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Sony A290 vs Sony W220

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Key Specs

Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony W220
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-7.1) lens
  • 147g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Sony A290 and Sony W220, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W220 (12MP) is relatively close but the A290 (APS-C) and W220 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The A290 was launched 18 months later than the W220 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W220 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the A290 scores versus the W220 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W220

 A290 W220 
AnnouncedJune 2010January 2009More recent by 18 months

Reasons to pick Sony W220 over the Sony A290

 W220 A290 

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W220

 A290 W220 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 comes with outside dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony W220 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Sony A290 and Sony W220 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the A290 versus the W220.

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and W220 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and W220.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A290 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A290 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher A290 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography factors
Sony W220 Portrait photography factors
65
you can focus manually
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
27
manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony W220
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography information
Sony W220 Sports photography information
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W220 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W220 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
no liveview
not so great battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
32
manual focus
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging information
Sony W220 Vlogging information
9
no video recording
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic port
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Sony A290 vs Sony W220 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W220
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-09 2009-01-08
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-7.1
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Syncro, Red-eye, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (8 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lbs) 147 gr (0.32 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 615 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $160