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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290

Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
75
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VI
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 301g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Announced June 2018
  • Replaced the Sony RX100 V
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 VII
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
  • Introduced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Sony RX100 VI and Sony W290, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the RX100 VI (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the RX100 VI (1") and W290 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The RX100 VI was introduced 9 years after the W290 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 VI being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the RX100 VI grades against the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VI over the Sony W290

 RX100 VI W290 
IntroducedJune 2018February 2009More modern by 114 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony RX100 VI

 W290 RX100 VI 

Common features in the Sony RX100 VI and Sony W290

 RX100 VI W290 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony RX100 VI features external dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 301 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony RX100 VI and Sony W290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the RX100 VI versus the W290.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RX100 VI and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through specs. The pic below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the RX100 VI and W290.

All in all, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The RX100 VI having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 VI will render extra detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent RX100 VI is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Portrait photography information
Sony W290 Portrait photography information
66
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VI as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
lighter than others in class (301g)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Sports photography information
Sony W290 Sports photography information
70
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (24.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
77
lighter than others in class (301g)
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
terrible battery life (240 CIPA)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
65
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
terrible battery life (240 CIPA)
41
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
77
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others in class (301 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have external mic support
28
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VI and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VISony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2018-06-05 2009-02-17
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 315 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-200mm (8.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 8cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 24.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.90 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
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)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 301 gr (0.66 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $1,198 $230