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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
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
  • Released February 2009
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the RX100 VA (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the RX100 VA (1") and W290 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The RX100 VA was released 9 years later than the W290 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the RX100 VA matches up versus the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony W290

 RX100 VA W290 
ReleasedJuly 2018February 2009More recent by 115 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony RX100 VA

 W290 RX100 VA 

Common features in the Sony RX100 VA and Sony W290

 RX100 VA W290 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX100 VA comes with physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the RX100 VA and the W290.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RX100 VA and W290 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specifications. The graphic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the RX100 VA and W290.

Plainly, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The RX100 VA because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 VA will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger RX100 VA will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography factors
Sony W290 Portrait photography factors
66
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
86
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (299 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Sports photography features
Sony W290 Sports photography features
70
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (220 per charge)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony RX100 VA
Travel photography with Sony W290
76
lighter than average in class (299g)
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (220 shots)
57
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony RX100 VA
Landscape photography with Sony W290
66
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
not so great battery (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
41
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Vlogging factors
Sony W290 Vlogging factors
81
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than average in class (299g)
no mic jack
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VA and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-07-13 2009-02-17
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 315 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-70mm (2.9x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,229 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 24.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.20 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 299 grams (0.66 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
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 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 220 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $998 $230