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Sony HX80 vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced March 2016
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
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Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Sony HX80 vs Sony W290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the HX80 (18MP) and W290 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The HX80 was announced 7 years later than the W290 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the HX80 matches up vs the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Sony W290

 HX80 W290 
LaunchedMarch 2016February 2009Fresher by 86 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony HX80

 W290 HX80 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Sony HX80 and Sony W290

 HX80 W290 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony HX80 provides external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the HX80 and the W290.

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX80 and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading technical specs. The visual below will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the HX80 and W290.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX80 to offer extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger HX80 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX80 Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
39
good resolution (18 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
focusing manually
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony HX80 Street photography information
Sony W290 Street photography information
70
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX80
Sports photography with Sony W290
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (390 shots)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX80 Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
76
great battery pack (390 per charge)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX80
Landscape photography with Sony W290
49
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
great battery pack (390 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
41
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX80 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
75
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (245g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external microphone socket
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Sony HX80 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX80 and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-03-07 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 245g (0.54 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 390 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $368 $230