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Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
 
Sony ZV-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
86
Overall
67

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 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
  • Launched February 2009
Sony ZV-1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 294g - 105 x 60 x 44mm
  • Announced May 2020
  • Renewed by Sony ZV-1 II
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Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the W290 (12MP) and ZV-1 (20MP) and the W290 (1/2.3") and ZV-1 (1") offer totally different sensor size.

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The W290 was unveiled 12 years before the ZV-1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony W290 being a Compact camera and the Sony ZV-1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the W290 matches up against the ZV-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony ZV-1

 W290 ZV-1 

Reasons to pick Sony ZV-1 over the Sony W290

 ZV-1 W290 
AnnouncedMay 2020February 2009Fresher by 137 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony W290 and Sony ZV-1

 W290 ZV-1 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display size

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Sony W290 offers outside measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony ZV-1 has proportions of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7") with a weight of 294 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the W290 and the ZV-1.

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the W290 and ZV-1 is 94 and 88 respectively.

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 top view buttons comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The visual underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the W290 and ZV-1.

All in all, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The W290 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony ZV-1 will result in extra detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older W290 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 sensor size comparison

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony ZV-1 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W290 Street photography highlights
Sony ZV-1 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
85
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
lighter than competition (294 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony W290 Sports photography advice
Sony ZV-1 Sports photography advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
71
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (260 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony W290
Travel photography with Sony ZV-1
57
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
81
lighter than competition (294 grams)
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
not so great battery (260 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony ZV-1 as a Landscape photography camera
41
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
70
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
not so great battery (260 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W290 Vlogging details
Sony ZV-1 Vlogging details
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
86
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone port
lighter than competition (294g)
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Sony W290 vs Sony ZV-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W290 and Sony ZV-1
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290Sony ZV-1
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony ZV-1
Type Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-02-17 2020-05-27
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 2 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 gr (0.37 pounds) 294 gr (0.65 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 105 x 60 x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $230 $750