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Sony W290 vs Sony WX1

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Key Specs

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
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Introduced August 2009
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Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Sony W290 and Sony WX1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both designed by Sony. The image resolution of the W290 (12MP) and the WX1 (10MP) is relatively similar but the W290 (1/2.3") and WX1 (1/2.4") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The W290 was revealed 5 months prior to the WX1 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony W290 being a Compact camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the W290 scores against the WX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony WX1

 W290 WX1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Sony W290

 WX1 W290 

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony WX1

 W290 WX1 
IntroducedFebruary 2009August 2009Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony W290 features external 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 WX1 has proportions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") along with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Look at the Sony W290 and Sony WX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the W290 against the WX1.

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the W290 and WX1 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the W290 and WX1.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The W290 using its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony W290 will offer you more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively.

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony W290
Street photography with Sony WX1
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition (149g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony W290 Sports photography advice
Sony WX1 Sports photography advice
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony W290 Travel photography features
Sony WX1 Travel photography features
57
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
56
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (149g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony W290
Landscape photography with Sony WX1
41
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
31
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX1 as a Vlogging camera
28
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
28
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
more heavy than competition (149g)
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Sony W290 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony WX1
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-02-17 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE 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 file format MPEG-4 -
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lb) 149 grams (0.33 lb)
Physical 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 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 type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $230 $149