Sony W290 vs Sony WX30

Its time to look more closely at the Sony W290 versus Sony WX30, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the W290 (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The W290 was unveiled 3 years prior to the WX30 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the W290 grades against the WX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30. The full galleries are provided at Sony W290 Gallery and Sony WX30 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony W290 enjoys exterior dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony WX30 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Sony W290 versus Sony WX30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the W290 versus the WX30.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the W290 and WX30 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the W290 and WX30.

To sum up, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony WX30 to give you more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged W290 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.