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Sony A290 vs Sony WX50

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 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
  • Replaced the Sony A230
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Sony A290 and Sony WX50, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the WX50 (16MP) is very close but the A290 (APS-C) and WX50 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was unveiled 20 months earlier than the WX50 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the A290 matches up vs the WX50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony WX50

 A290 WX50 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony A290

 WX50 A290 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012June 2010Newer by 20 months
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony WX50

 A290 WX50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A290 enjoys external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony WX50 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Sony A290 and Sony WX50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the A290 against the WX50.

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and WX50 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The pic here may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and WX50.

As you have seen, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A290 with its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Sony WX50 will result in more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be behind in sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography information
Sony WX50 Portrait photography information
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography highlights
Sony WX50 Street photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony WX50
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A290
Travel photography with Sony WX50
53
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (290 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (117g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography info
Sony WX50 Landscape photography info
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
38
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX50 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
35
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony WX50
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-06-09 2012-01-30
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 grams (1.21 pounds) 117 grams (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 240 images
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 media 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 cost $600 $250