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Sony TX30 vs Sony W290

Portability
96
Imaging
43
Features
43
Overall
43
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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 TX30 vs Sony W290 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Sony TX30 versus Sony W290, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the TX30 (18MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TX30 was revealed 4 years later than the W290 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the TX30 scores versus the W290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Sony W290

 TX30 W290 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2009More recent by 54 months
Display dimensions3.3"3"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony TX30

 W290 TX30 

Common features in the Sony TX30 and Sony W290

 TX30 W290 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony TX30 features outer measurements of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony TX30 versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TX30 vs the W290.

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TX30 and W290 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TX30 and W290.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony TX30 to give greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher TX30 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony TX30 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
39
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony TX30 as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony TX30
Sports photography with Sony W290
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony TX30 Travel photography info
Sony W290 Travel photography info
69
weather proofing
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony TX30 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
51
you can focus manually
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3.3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
41
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony TX30 Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
34
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
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Sony TX30 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony TX30 and Sony W290
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-26 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-4.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,229k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141g (0.31 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $230 $230