Clicky

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • New Model is Sony HX30V
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
  • Launched February 2009
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Sony HX20V versus Sony W290, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the HX20V (18MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The HX20V was launched 3 years after the W290 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the HX20V scores vs the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony W290

 HX20V W290 
LaunchedJuly 2012February 2009More modern by 42 months
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony HX20V

 W290 HX20V 

Common features in the Sony HX20V and Sony W290

 HX20V W290 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Sony HX20V features outer measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony HX20V versus Sony W290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the HX20V compared to the W290.

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX20V and W290 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The picture here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the HX20V and W290.

All in all, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should anticipate the Sony HX20V to provide greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger HX20V should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
45
manual focus
decent MP (18MP)
includes face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX20V
Street photography with Sony W290
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX20V
Sports photography with Sony W290
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than others (254g)
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
Landscape photography with Sony W290
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
41
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sony HX20V vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX20V and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20VSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-07-20 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254 grams (0.56 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BG1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $397 $230