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Sony W290 vs Sony A55

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 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
  • Released February 2009
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A57
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Sony W290 vs Sony A55 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Sony W290 versus Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the W290 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the W290 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The W290 was released 18 months prior to the A55 making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony W290 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the W290 scores vs the A55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A55

 W290 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony W290

 A55 W290 
RevealedAugust 2010February 2009More modern by 18 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony A55

 W290 A55 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Sony W290 has exterior measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Sony W290 versus Sony A55 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the W290 vs the A55.

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the W290 and A55 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The pic here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the W290 and A55.

Plainly, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The W290 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A55 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged W290 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W290 Street photography features
Sony A55 Street photography features
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony W290 Sports photography details
Sony A55 Sports photography details
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W290 Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
57
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
62
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
41
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
67
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
terrible battery (380 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W290 Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
28
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic jack
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Sony W290 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-02-17 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 2 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 pounds) 500 grams (1.10 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 All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $230 $800