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Sony W690 vs Sony WX500

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
Photography Glossary

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Sony W690 and Sony WX500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Sony. The resolution of the W690 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The W690 was unveiled 4 years before the WX500 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the W690 matches up against the WX500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony WX500

 W690 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony W690

 WX500 W690 
LaunchedApril 2015February 2012Fresher by 38 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony W690 and Sony WX500

 W690 WX500 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony W690 comes with exterior dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Sony W690 and Sony WX500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the W690 vs the WX500.

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the W690 and WX500 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the W690 and WX500.

Clearly, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony WX500 to give greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The older W690 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
39
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony W690 Street photography factors
Sony WX500 Street photography factors
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony W690 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery (360 per charge)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony W690 Travel photography details
Sony WX500 Travel photography details
68
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
good battery (360 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (236 grams)
decent megapixels (18MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W690 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX500 Landscape photography advice
43
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
49
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
good battery (360 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W690 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX500 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
35
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
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Sony W690 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W690 and Sony WX500
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-02-28 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology ClearPhoto TFT LCD display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
White balance 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 file format MPEG-4 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142 grams (0.31 lbs) 236 grams (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 220 photographs 360 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BN NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $297 $348