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Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 III
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 V
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 RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Sony RX100 IV versus Sony W290, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the RX100 IV (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the RX100 IV (1") and W290 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The RX100 IV was brought out 6 years later than the W290 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the RX100 IV grades versus the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony W290

 RX100 IV W290 
AnnouncedJune 2015February 2009Fresher by 77 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony RX100 IV

 W290 RX100 IV 

Common features in the Sony RX100 IV and Sony W290

 RX100 IV W290 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony RX100 IV has outer measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony RX100 IV versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the RX100 IV compared to the W290.

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 IV and W290 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching a spec sheet. The photograph below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the RX100 IV and W290.

Clearly, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The RX100 IV due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony RX100 IV will provide you with extra detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher RX100 IV will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography factors
Sony W290 Portrait photography factors
65
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than average (298g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Sports photography features
Sony W290 Sports photography features
68
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (16.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
features tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 IV as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
86
lighter than average (298 grams)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
57
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
74
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
41
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
81
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average (298 grams)
no external microphone socket
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
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Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 IV and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IVSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2015-06-10 2009-02-17
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-70mm (2.9x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,229k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 16.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 298g (0.66 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 562 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $898 $230