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Sony A290 vs Sony W650

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
Sony W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Sony A290 vs Sony W650 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Sony A290 versus Sony W650, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W650 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the A290 (APS-C) and W650 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The A290 was revealed 19 months before the W650 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the A290 scores versus the W650 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W650

 A290 W650 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Sony A290

 W650 A290 
ReleasedJanuary 2012June 2010Newer by 19 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W650

 A290 W650 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 provides exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony W650 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Sony A290 versus Sony W650 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the A290 vs the W650.

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and W650 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and W650.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A290 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony W650 will give extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A290 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W650 as a Portrait photography camera
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography highlights
Sony W650 Street photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (124 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony W650
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low battery (290 per charge)
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography highlights
Sony W650 Travel photography highlights
53
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
low battery (290 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (124g)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W650 as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
low battery (290 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
Sony W650 Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (124g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Sony A290 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W650
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-06-09 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
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/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.70 m
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 549g (1.21 lbs) 124g (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 220 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $140