Sony HX99 vs Sony W290
91 Imaging
45 Features
67 Overall
53


94 Imaging
34 Features
28 Overall
31
Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
- 3.00" Tilting Display
- ISO 80 - 12800
- 3840 x 2160 video
- 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
- 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
- Announced September 2018
(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

Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Overview
Its time to examine more in depth at the Sony HX99 versus Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the HX99 (18MP) and W290 (12MP) and the HX99 (1/2.3-inch) and W290 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

The HX99 was introduced 9 years after the W290 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the HX99 scores vs the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony HX99 Gallery & Sony W290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Sony W290
HX99 | W290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | September 2018 | ![]() | February 2009 | Newer by 117 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+691k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony HX99
W290 | HX99 |
---|
Common features in the Sony HX99 and Sony W290
HX99 | W290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Screen sizing | 3.00" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen measurement |
Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison
When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony HX99 provides outer measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs) while the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).
See the Sony HX99 versus Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the HX99 versus the W290.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the HX99 and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The picture underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the HX99 and W290.
All in all, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The HX99 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX99 will produce extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger HX99 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX99 vs Sony W290 Specifications
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Sony | Sony |
Model type | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Announced | 2018-09-01 | 2009-02-17 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3-inch | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
Anti alias 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 | 12800 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | 28-140mm (5.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/3.5-6.4 | f/3.3-5.2 |
Macro focusing distance | 5cm | 10cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3.00 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 921k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 638k dots | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.5x | - |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 30s | 2s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/1600s |
Continuous shooting rate | 10.0 frames/s | 2.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) | 3.90 m |
Flash settings | Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync | 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 | ||
Video resolutions | 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 3840x2160 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | AVCHD, XAVC S | MPEG-4 |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 242g (0.53 pounds) | 167g (0.37 pounds) |
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 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 life | 360 images | - |
Battery style | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | NP-BX1 | - |
Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | $469 | $230 |