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Sony W290 vs Sony A37

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 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
  • Launched February 2009
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched May 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A35
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Sony W290 vs Sony A37 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony W290 versus Sony A37, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the W290 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the W290 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The W290 was revealed 4 years before the A37 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony W290 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the W290 grades versus the A37 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A37

 W290 A37 
Display size3"2.6"Larger display (+0.4")

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Sony W290

 A37 W290 
LaunchedMay 2012February 2009More recent by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony A37

 W290 A37 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony W290 has physical dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony A37 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Examine the Sony W290 versus Sony A37 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the W290 vs the A37.

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the W290 and A37 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the W290 and A37.

All in all, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The W290 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A37 will render more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older W290 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 Portrait photography features
Sony A37 Portrait photography features
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony W290 Street photography highlights
Sony A37 Street photography highlights
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony W290 Sports photography advice
Sony A37 Sports photography advice
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W290 Travel photography information
Sony A37 Travel photography information
57
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W290 Landscape photography details
Sony A37 Landscape photography details
41
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
64
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.6 inches)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A37 as a Vlogging camera
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Sony W290 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony A37
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony SLT-A37
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-17 2012-05-16
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.6"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 2 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 grams (0.37 pounds) 506 grams (1.12 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $230 $522