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Sony A290 vs Sony W530

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony W530
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Sony A290 vs Sony W530 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Sony A290 and Sony W530, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are designed by Sony. The resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W530 (14MP) is fairly close but the A290 (APS-C) and W530 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was introduced 7 months prior to the W530 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the A290 scores against the W530 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W530

 A290 W530 
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony W530 over the Sony A290

 W530 A290 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011June 2010More recent by 7 months

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W530

 A290 W530 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 provides outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony W530 has proportions of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check out the Sony A290 and Sony W530 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the A290 and the W530.

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and W530 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and W530.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor measurements. The A290 has got the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field easier. The older A290 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W530 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W530 as a Portrait photography camera
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony W530
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
48
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony W530
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
26
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W530 as a Travel photography camera
53
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W530 as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
33
reasonably wide (26mm)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A290
Vlogging with Sony W530
9
no video
26
reasonably wide (26mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Sony A290 vs Sony W530 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W530
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2010-06-09 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
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 - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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 Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 gr (1.21 lb) 113 gr (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" 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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $269