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Sony RX100 vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 II
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 vs Sony W290 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Sony RX100 versus Sony W290, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the RX100 (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the RX100 (1") and W290 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The RX100 was released 3 years after the W290 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the RX100 grades against the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony W290

 RX100 W290 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2009More modern by 43 months
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony RX100

 W290 RX100 

Common features in the Sony RX100 and Sony W290

 RX100 W290 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Sony RX100 has got external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony RX100 versus Sony W290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the RX100 versus the W290.

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the RX100 and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the RX100 and W290.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The RX100 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The fresher RX100 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
64
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
79
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240g)
good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 Sports photography factors
Sony W290 Sports photography factors
65
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
79
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
57
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
41
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony RX100
Vlogging with Sony W290
38
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
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Sony RX100 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-28 2009-02-17
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type 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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-100mm (3.6x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-4.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,229 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech WhiteMagic TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240 gr (0.53 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 390 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $448 $230