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Sony HX99 vs Sony W690

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Key Specs

Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2018
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Sony HX99 and Sony W690, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the HX99 (18MP) and the W690 (16MP) is relatively close but the HX99 (1/2.3-inch) and W690 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The HX99 was announced 6 years after the W690 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the HX99 scores vs the W690 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Sony W690

 HX99 W690 
RevealedSeptember 2018February 2012Newer by 80 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony HX99

 W690 HX99 

Common features in the Sony HX99 and Sony W690

 HX99 W690 
Screen size3.00"3"Same screen size

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX99 has got outer dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs) while the Sony W690 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Sony HX99 and Sony W690 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the HX99 vs the W690.

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the HX99 and W690 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through specifications. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the HX99 and W690.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The HX99 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony HX99 will render more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The newer HX99 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX99 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
53
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3-inch)
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX99
Street photography with Sony W690
77
has a tilting screen
image stabilization
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (242g)
sensor size is small (1/2.3-inch)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX99
Sports photography with Sony W690
58
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery life (360 shots)
sensor size is small (1/2.3-inch)
doesn't have phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX99
Travel photography with Sony W690
76
good battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than competition (242 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
68
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX99 Landscape photography features
Sony W690 Landscape photography features
58
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3.00")
image stabilization
MP count good (18MP)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (360 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3-inch)
missing Time Lapse recording
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX99 Vlogging advice
Sony W690 Vlogging advice
76
quite wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition (242g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
missing external mic jack
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony HX99 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX99 and Sony W690
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-09-01 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.00" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 638k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.5x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 242g (0.53 lbs) 142g (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" 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 360 photographs 220 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-BN
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $469 $297