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Sony W290 vs Sony A77

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 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 A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony A700
  • Later Model is Sony A77 II
Photography Glossary

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Sony W290 versus Sony A77, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the W290 (12MP) and A77 (24MP) and the W290 (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The W290 was introduced 3 years earlier than the A77 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony W290 being a Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the W290 scores versus the A77 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A77

 W290 A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Sony W290

 A77 W290 
ReleasedOctober 2011February 2009Newer by 32 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony A77

 W290 A77 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony W290 offers physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Analyze the Sony W290 versus Sony A77 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the W290 vs the A77.

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the W290 and A77 is 94 and 59 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the W290 and A77.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The W290 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A77 will render extra detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged W290 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A77 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W290 Street photography highlights
Sony A77 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony W290
Sports photography with Sony A77
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
low battery power (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W290 Travel photography highlights
Sony A77 Travel photography highlights
57
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
62
weather sealing
resolution is good (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery power (470 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W290 Landscape photography information
Sony A77 Landscape photography information
41
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery power (470 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony W290
Vlogging with Sony A77
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
76
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic jack
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Sony W290 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony A77
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony SLT-A77
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-02-17 2011-10-25
Body design Compact Mid-size 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 area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 50
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
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 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 2s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m 12.00 m
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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167g (0.37 lb) 732g (1.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 801
Other
Battery life - 470 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
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 price $230 $900