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Sony A290 vs Sony W690

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 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
  • Earlier Model is Sony A230
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Sony A290 vs Sony W690 Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Sony A290 versus Sony W690, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W690 (16MP) is very well matched but the A290 (APS-C) and W690 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The A290 was announced 20 months before the W690 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the A290 grades versus the W690 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W690

 A290 W690 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony A290

 W690 A290 
IntroducedFebruary 2012June 2010Fresher by 20 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W690

 A290 W690 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A290 provides 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 W690 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 versus Sony W690 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the A290 and the W690.

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and W690 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and W690.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A290 having a larger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony W690 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively. The older A290 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography factors
Sony W690 Portrait photography factors
65
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
no liveview
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography details
Sony W690 Street photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony W690
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (290 shots)
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A290
Travel photography with Sony W690
53
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (290 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A290
Landscape photography with Sony W690
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
no liveview
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
43
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W690 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
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Sony A290 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W690
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-06-09 2012-02-28
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias 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 format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549g (1.21 lb) 142g (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 220 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
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
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $600 $297