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Sony W690 vs Sony A99

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 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
  • Launched February 2012
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Launched December 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A900
  • Updated by Sony A99 II
Photography Glossary

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Sony W690 versus Sony A99, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are sold by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the W690 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the W690 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The W690 was revealed 9 months earlier than the A99 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony W690 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the W690 grades against the A99 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony A99

 W690 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony W690

 A99 W690 
LaunchedDecember 2012February 2012Newer by 9 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony W690 and Sony A99

 W690 A99 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony W690 provides physical dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Sony W690 versus Sony A99 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the W690 vs the A99.

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the W690 and A99 is 95 and 57 respectively.

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by going over specifications. The picture below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the W690 and A99.

To sum up, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The W690 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will offer you more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged W690 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W690 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W690 Portrait photography details
Sony A99 Portrait photography details
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
81
has manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W690 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony W690
Sports photography with Sony A99
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony W690
Travel photography with Sony A99
68
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
weather proofing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W690 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
43
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
low battery (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W690 Vlogging info
Sony A99 Vlogging info
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
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Sony W690 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W690 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 Sony SLT-A99
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-02-28 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology ClearPhoto TFT LCD display TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 142 grams (0.31 lb) 812 grams (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 220 shots 500 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 2
Price at launch $297 $1,998