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Sony A290 vs Sony W290

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230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 A290 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Sony A290 vs Sony W290, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very similar but the A290 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The A290 was introduced 16 months later than the W290 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the A290 grades vs the W290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W290

 A290 W290 
LaunchedJune 2010February 2009Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A290

 W290 A290 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W290

 A290 W290 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A290 comes with exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A290 vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the A290 against the W290.

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and W290 is 66 and 94 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over technical specs. The visual below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and W290.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A290 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A290 will offer you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The newer A290 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
65
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography information
Sony W290 Sports photography information
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A290
Travel photography with Sony W290
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (290 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography info
Sony W290 Landscape photography info
58
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
bad battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
41
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging info
Sony W290 Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
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Sony A290 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-09 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 615 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $600 $230