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Sony HX300 vs Sony W290

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Released February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX200V
  • New Model is Sony HX400V
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 HX300 vs Sony W290 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Sony HX300 and Sony W290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the HX300 (20MP) and W290 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The HX300 was manufactured 4 years later than the W290 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the HX300 grades versus the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony W290

 HX300 W290 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013February 2009More recent by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony HX300

 W290 HX300 

Common features in the Sony HX300 and Sony W290

 HX300 W290 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony HX300 enjoys outer dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs) and the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX300 and Sony W290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the HX300 compared to the W290.

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the HX300 and W290 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to see the difference between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The photograph here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HX300 and W290.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX300 to offer more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher HX300 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX300 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
42
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony HX300 Street photography highlights
Sony W290 Street photography highlights
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition (623g)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX300 Sports photography highlights
Sony W290 Sports photography highlights
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX300 Travel photography details
Sony W290 Travel photography details
54
good megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (623 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX300 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
48
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
41
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX300 Vlogging info
Sony W290 Vlogging info
25
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
more heavy than competition (623g)
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
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Sony HX300 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX300 and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-02-20 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
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 24-1200mm (50.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.3 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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, 50 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 623g (1.37 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") 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
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media - Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $339 $230