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Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290

Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 302g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Released July 2019
  • Old Model is Sony RX100 VI
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
Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Sony RX100 VII and Sony W290, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the RX100 VII (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the RX100 VII (1") and W290 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The RX100 VII was introduced 10 years later than the W290 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony RX100 VII being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the RX100 VII matches up vs the W290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VII over the Sony W290

 RX100 VII W290 
ReleasedJuly 2019February 2009Fresher by 127 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony RX100 VII

 W290 RX100 VII 

Common features in the Sony RX100 VII and Sony W290

 RX100 VII W290 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Sony RX100 VII has got physical dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") along with a weight of 302 grams (0.67 lbs) while the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony RX100 VII and Sony W290 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the RX100 VII vs the W290.

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the RX100 VII and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 VII and W290.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RX100 VII having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX100 VII will resolve greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more modern RX100 VII provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VII as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
66
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VII Street photography info
Sony W290 Street photography info
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW formats
provides focus via touch
lighter than competition (302 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony RX100 VII
Sports photography with Sony W290
70
silent mode (1/32,000s)
high max fps (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 VII Travel photography details
Sony W290 Travel photography details
77
lighter than competition (302 grams)
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
bad battery life (260 per charge)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VII Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
65
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
bad battery life (260 shots)
41
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VII as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
81
rather wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic support
lighter than competition (302 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Sony RX100 VII vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VII and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VIISony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2019-07-25 2009-02-17
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing 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
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-200mm (8.3x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 8cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 20.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.90 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 302 gr (0.67 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
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 score 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 418 not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $1,298 $230