Clicky

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony W290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the NEX-5N (16MP) and W290 (12MP) and the NEX-5N (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The NEX-5N was manufactured 2 years after the W290 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the NEX-5N scores against the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony W290

 NEX-5N W290 
RevealedOctober 2011February 2009Newer by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony NEX-5N

 W290 NEX-5N 

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony W290

 NEX-5N W290 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-5N offers exterior measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-5N versus Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-5N vs the W290.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5N and W290 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading specs. The pic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5N and W290.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-5N featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony NEX-5N will offer you more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The newer NEX-5N provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
Portrait photography with Sony W290
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
Street photography with Sony W290
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
provides touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
58
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
70
good battery (460 CIPA)
provides touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
57
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
41
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
33
touchscreen capability
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone support
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-10-03 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 1079 not tested
Other
Battery life 460 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $550 $230