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Sony A290 vs Sony W800

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 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
  • Previous Model is Sony A230
Sony W800
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.4) lens
  • 125g - 97 x 55 x 21mm
  • Revealed February 2014
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Sony A290 vs Sony W800 Overview

Lets look closer at the Sony A290 versus Sony W800, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and W800 (20MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and W800 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The A290 was brought out 4 years before the W800 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W800 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the A290 matches up against the W800 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W800

 A290 W800 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony W800 over the Sony A290

 W800 A290 
RevealedFebruary 2014June 2010Newer by 44 months

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W800

 A290 W800 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A290 enjoys 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) and the Sony W800 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 versus Sony W800 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the A290 and the W800.

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and W800 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The image below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and W800.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A290 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony W800 will offer you more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged A290 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography details
Sony W800 Portrait photography details
65
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
no liveview
38
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony W800
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography info
Sony W800 Sports photography info
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low battery (290 shots)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W800 as a Travel photography camera
53
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low battery (290 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
70
lighter than competition in class (125g)
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography advice
Sony W800 Landscape photography advice
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no liveview
low battery (290 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
41
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging info
Sony W800 Vlogging info
9
no video
33
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Sony A290 vs Sony W800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W800
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-06-09 2014-02-13
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 5152 x 3864
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
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 - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-6.4
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - AVI MPEG4
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lb) 125 gr (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 97 x 55 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 pictures -
Battery form 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 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 Single Single
Launch price $600 $90