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Sony A290 vs Sony W510

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
Sony W510
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 54 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Sony A290 vs Sony W510 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Sony A290 vs Sony W510, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are built by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W510 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the A290 (APS-C) and W510 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The A290 was manufactured 7 months prior to the W510 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W510 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the A290 scores against the W510 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W510

 A290 W510 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony W510 over the Sony A290

 W510 A290 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011June 2010More recent by 7 months

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W510

 A290 W510 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurement
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A290 features external 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 W510 has dimensions of 96mm x 54mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8") and a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Sony A290 vs Sony W510 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the A290 versus the W510.

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and W510 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out technical specs. The visual here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A290 and W510.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A290 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony A290 will show extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older A290 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W510 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A290
Portrait photography with Sony W510
65
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony W510
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
57
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W510 as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
25
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography features
Sony W510 Travel photography features
53
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (290 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
58
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A290
Landscape photography with Sony W510
58
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
bad battery life (290 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
32
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A290
Vlogging with Sony W510
9
no video recording
29
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony W510 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W510
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2010-06-09 2011-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz 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 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 2.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549g (1.21 lbs) 119g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 96 x 54 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8")
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 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $99