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Sony A290 vs Sony W830

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 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
  • Replaced the Sony A230
Sony W830
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2014
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Sony A290 vs Sony W830 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Sony A290 and Sony W830, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are built by Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and W830 (20MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and W830 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was unveiled 4 years before the W830 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the A290 grades vs the W830 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W830

 A290 W830 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony W830 over the Sony A290

 W830 A290 
RevealedJanuary 2014June 2010Newer by 43 months

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W830

 A290 W830 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Sony A290 provides external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony W830 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 and Sony W830 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the A290 and the W830.

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and W830 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing specifications. The image below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and W830.

Plainly, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A290 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony W830 will render extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W830 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A290
Portrait photography with Sony W830
65
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
38
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography factors
Sony W830 Street photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
59
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography advice
Sony W830 Sports photography advice
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A290
Travel photography with Sony W830
53
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
67
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography features
Sony W830 Landscape photography features
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
41
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
Sony W830 Vlogging highlights
9
no video shooting
32
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony W830 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W830
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2010-06-09 2014-01-07
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 surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias 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
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
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) 2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - H.264
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lb) 122 gr (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" 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 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $128