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Sony a5000 vs Sony W290

Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62
Sony Alpha a5000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-3N
  • Renewed by Sony a5100
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony a5000 and Sony W290, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the a5000 (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the a5000 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The a5000 was revealed 4 years after the W290 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the a5000 grades versus the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Sony W290

 a5000 W290 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014February 2009More modern by 60 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony a5000

 W290 a5000 

Common features in the Sony a5000 and Sony W290

 a5000 W290 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Sony a5000 offers outer dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony a5000 and Sony W290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the a5000 and the W290.

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the a5000 and W290 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The pic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the a5000 and W290.

Plainly, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The a5000 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony a5000 will produce extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The younger a5000 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a5000 Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony a5000 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
78
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony a5000
Sports photography with Sony W290
60
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (420 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony a5000 Travel photography highlights
Sony W290 Travel photography highlights
78
great battery life (420 per charge)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
57
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a5000 Landscape photography info
Sony W290 Landscape photography info
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (420 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
41
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony a5000
Vlogging with Sony W290
32
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone support
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Sony a5000 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a5000 and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha a5000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a5000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-01-07 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.2 x 15.4mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 357.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5456 x 3632 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 16000 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 269 gr (0.59 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1089 not tested
Other
Battery life 420 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $448 $230