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Sony W290 vs Sony W380

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Key Specs

Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
Sony W380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 117g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Sony W290 versus Sony W380, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Sony. The image resolution of the W290 (12MP) and the W380 (14MP) is fairly similar and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The W290 was unveiled 10 months earlier than the W380 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony W290 being a Compact camera and the Sony W380 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the W290 matches up versus the W380 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony W380

 W290 W380 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W380 over the Sony W290

 W380 W290 
RevealedJanuary 2010February 2009More modern by 10 months

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony W380

 W290 W380 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you should factor its weight and volume. The Sony W290 has got outside measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony W380 has sizing of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony W290 versus Sony W380 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the W290 vs the W380.

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the W290 and W380 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The picture here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the W290 and W380.

All in all, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony W380 to offer you more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged W290 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 Portrait photography details
Sony W380 Portrait photography details
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
Sony W380 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W380 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W380 as a Travel photography camera
57
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
65
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W290 Landscape photography features
Sony W380 Landscape photography features
41
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W290 Vlogging advice
Sony W380 Vlogging advice
28
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
29
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Sony W290 vs Sony W380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony W380
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Released 2009-02-17 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 2s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lbs) 117 grams (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $230 $44