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Sony A290 vs Sony WX30

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Sony A290 and Sony WX30, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is very comparable but the A290 (APS-C) and WX30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was brought out 13 months prior to the WX30 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the A290 scores vs the WX30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony WX30

 A290 WX30 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony A290

 WX30 A290 
RevealedJuly 2011June 2010More recent by 13 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony WX30

 A290 WX30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 offers physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony WX30 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 and Sony WX30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the A290 vs the WX30.

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A290 and WX30 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by going through specifications. The visual below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and WX30.

To sum up, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A290 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony WX30 will produce more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older A290 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Portrait photography camera
65
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography information
Sony WX30 Street photography information
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography factors
Sony WX30 Sports photography factors
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
39
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX30 Travel photography highlights
53
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (117 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
Sony WX30 Landscape photography factors
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no liveview feature
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging info
Sony WX30 Vlogging info
9
no video recording
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
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Sony A290 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony WX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-09 2011-07-25
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 pounds) 117 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 images 250 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BN1
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/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $600 $259