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Sony W290 vs Sony WX500

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 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 WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Old Model is Sony WX350
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Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony W290 versus Sony WX500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the W290 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The W290 was manufactured 7 years before the WX500 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the W290 matches up versus the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony WX500

 W290 WX500 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony W290

 WX500 W290 
ReleasedApril 2015February 2009More modern by 74 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony WX500

 W290 WX500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony W290 offers outside measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Sony W290 versus Sony WX500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the W290 vs the WX500.

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the W290 and WX500 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the W290 and WX500.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony WX500 to result in more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged W290 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX500 Portrait photography factors
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
39
good MP (18MP)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony W290 Street photography features
Sony WX500 Street photography features
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
70
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony W290 Sports photography advice
Sony WX500 Sports photography advice
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony W290 Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
57
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
great battery pack (360 per charge)
lighter than competition (236g)
good MP (18MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony W290
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
41
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
49
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
great battery pack (360 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W290 Vlogging factors
Sony WX500 Vlogging factors
28
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
35
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (236g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
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Sony W290 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony WX500
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-02-17 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 2 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 236 grams (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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
Battery life - 360 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $230 $348