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Sony A290 vs Sony W330

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony W330
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 128g - 96 x 57 x 17mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Sony A290 vs Sony W330 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Sony A290 and Sony W330, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are offered by Sony. The resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W330 (14MP) is very similar but the A290 (APS-C) and W330 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The A290 was revealed 6 months later than the W330 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W330 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A290 scores vs the W330 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W330

 A290 W330 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony W330 over the Sony A290

 W330 A290 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W330

 A290 W330 
LaunchedJune 2010January 2010Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 has got outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony W330 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 17mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 128 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Sony A290 and Sony W330 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the A290 and the W330.

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and W330 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The graphic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and W330.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The A290 provides the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler.

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W330 as a Portrait photography camera
65
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
Sony W330 as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
48
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography highlights
Sony W330 Sports photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
26
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography advice
Sony W330 Travel photography advice
53
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (290 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
65
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W330 Landscape photography highlights
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
terrible battery power (290 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
37
really wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging information
Sony W330 Vlogging information
9
lack of video recording
26
really wide (26mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Sony A290 vs Sony W330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W330
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2010-06-09 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-105mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash modes 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
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lb) 128 grams (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 96 x 57 x 17mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $170