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Sony H55 vs Sony W290

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Sony H55 and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the H55 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The H55 was brought out 17 months later than the W290 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the H55 matches up against the W290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Sony W290

 H55 W290 
AnnouncedJune 2010February 2009Fresher by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony H55

 W290 H55 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Sony H55 and Sony W290

 H55 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony H55 provides outside dimensions of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony H55 and Sony W290 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 differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the H55 versus the W290.

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the H55 and W290 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the H55 and W290.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Sony H55 to resolve more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher H55 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony H55 Portrait photography details
Sony W290 Portrait photography details
28
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony H55
Street photography with Sony W290
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony H55 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony H55 Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
67
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony H55
Landscape photography with Sony W290
42
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
41
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony H55 Vlogging factors
Sony W290 Vlogging factors
28
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
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Sony H55 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H55 and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-16 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.80 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200g (0.44 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID NP-BG1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $235 $230