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Sony TX1 vs Sony W290

Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony TX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Released August 2009
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Sony TX1 and Sony W290, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. The resolution of the TX1 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very close but the TX1 (1/2.4") and W290 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The TX1 was brought out 6 months after the W290 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony TX1 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the TX1 scores against the W290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony TX1 over the Sony W290

 TX1 W290 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony TX1

 W290 TX1 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Sony TX1 and Sony W290

 TX1 W290 
RevealedAugust 2009February 2009Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony TX1 features outside measurements of 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony TX1 and Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the TX1 vs the W290.

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TX1 and W290 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The picture here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TX1 and W290.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TX1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Sony W290 will result in greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony TX1
Portrait photography with Sony W290
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
27
you can focus manually
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony TX1
Street photography with Sony W290
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony TX1 Sports photography advice
Sony W290 Sports photography advice
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,250 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony TX1 Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
57
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony TX1
Landscape photography with Sony W290
31
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
41
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony TX1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
28
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Sony TX1 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony TX1 and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-08-06 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.4" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.104 x 4.578mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-4.6 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 8cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1250s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142g (0.31 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $350 $230