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Sony A290 vs Sony W320

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320 front
Portability
97
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Key Specs

Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony W320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 117g - 93 x 52 x 17mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Sony A290 and Sony W320, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W320 (14MP) is very comparable but the A290 (APS-C) and W320 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The A290 was introduced 6 months later than the W320 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W320 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A290 matches up against the W320 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W320

 A290 W320 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony W320 over the Sony A290

 W320 A290 

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W320

 A290 W320 
LaunchedJune 2010January 2010Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A290 has exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony W320 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 and Sony W320 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the A290 vs the W320.

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and W320 is 66 and 97 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and W320.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The A290 provides the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field easier.

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography factors
Sony W320 Portrait photography factors
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography details
Sony W320 Street photography details
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
48
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony W320
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
26
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W320 as a Travel photography camera
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
66
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W320 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
33
really wide (26mm)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W320 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
26
really wide (26mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony W320 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W320
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-06-09 2010-01-07
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
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 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-105mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 1s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
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 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 pounds) 117 grams (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 93 x 52 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $600 $269