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Sony W690

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony W690 summary

Sony W690 is Sony's Small Sensor Compact camera first announced on February of 2012. The camera features a 16MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The W690 is scored #77 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & over-all #881 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please check our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your custom requirements.

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Below is a chart of various factors used in the rating system.

Sony W690 family

The Sony W690 is part of a family of cameras. You can see the detailed range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX500 front thumbnailSony WX500
W690 vs WX500
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX350 front thumbnailSony WX350
W690 vs WX350
25-500mm
F3.5-6.5
18MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W800 front thumbnailSony W800
W690 vs W800
26-130mm
F3.2-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX300 front thumbnailSony WX300
W690 vs WX300
25-500mm
F3.5-6.5
18MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W730 front thumbnailSony W730
W690 vs W730
25-224mm
F3.3-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W710 front thumbnailSony W710
W690 vs W710
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX80 front thumbnailSony WX80
W690 vs WX80
28-224mm
F3.3-8.0
16MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX150 front thumbnailSony WX150
W690 vs WX150
25-250mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W690 front thumbnailSony W69025-250mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX70 front thumbnailSony WX70
W690 vs WX70
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX50 front thumbnailSony WX50
W690 vs WX50
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W610 front thumbnailSony W610
W690 vs W610
26-105mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W620 front thumbnailSony W620
W690 vs W620
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W650 front thumbnailSony W650
W690 vs W650
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX30 front thumbnailSony WX30
W690 vs WX30
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX10 front thumbnailSony WX10
W690 vs WX10
24-168mm
F2.4-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX5 front thumbnailSony WX5
W690 vs WX5
24-120mm
F2.4-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W370 front thumbnailSony W370
W690 vs W370
34-238mm
F3.6-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W290 front thumbnailSony W290
W690 vs W290
28-140mm
F3.3-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W230 front thumbnailSony W230
W690 vs W230
30-120mm
F2.8-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W220 front thumbnailSony W220
W690 vs W220
30-120mm
F2.8-7.1
12MP1/2.3"2009

Sony W690 Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of good and bad points of the Sony W690 based on criterias that are normally regarded as crucial in a camera.

built-in flash
comes with face detection focusing
comes with tracking autofocus
good sized screen (3")
great minimum ISO (80)
image stabilization (Optical)
in built zoom lens (25-250mm 10.0 x zoom)
relatively wide (25mm)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
very long reach (250mm)
cannot use external flash
display is not selfie friendly
does not have phase detect AF
does not have RAW support
fixed screen
focusing manually not possible
lack of aperture priority mode
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
manual mode not available
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
missing external mic support
missing HDMI out
missing headphone support
missing Time Lapse recording
no shutter priority
pixelated screen (230 k dots)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
slow at tele end (f5.9)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Sony W690 Sensor specifications

The Sony W690 features the BIONZ chip. The sensor size in the Sony W690 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter can lead to cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 16 megapixels and includes a native ISO range of 80 - 3200. Unfortunately, RAW files are not supported which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.

The image below displays the W690's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The W690 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is outlined in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony W690 dimensions

Sony W690 weighs around 0.31 lbs (142 grams or 5.01 oz) & the over all size of the camera is 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9"). The weight of average Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Sony W690 is less heavy compared with its rivals.

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Below is a photo of the Sony W690 besides a soft drink so you're able to get a feel for its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 dimensions scale

The top view below will highlight the button design on the W690.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 topview buttons dials

Sony W690 Lens specifications

The W690 comes with a built in lens and a focal range of 25-250mm making it a 10.0 x zoom which may not be ideal nevertheless it will probably be helpful in certain conditions.

At the widest 25mm, the lens has an aperture of f3.3 and that's kind of slow and not good for low light occasions and you will likely struggle to get a shallow depth of field. You will probably also need to up the ISO resulting in noisy pictures. For the tele end, 250mm is terrific zoom and comes with f5.9 making it pretty sluggish and you might need to utilize slow shutter speeds.

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Sony W690 Connectivity

The W690 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that come with NFC and / or Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to send pictures and at times alter settings with no need to connect directly to the camera.

Some applications even allow a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external screen. Nearly all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack with the USB socket.

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Sony W690 Video specifications

The highest possible video quality in the Sony W690 is 1280 x 720 and you can capture in MPEG-4 format. 720p is terrible for today's standards. You really should shoot for a minimum FUll HD quality for good video. The camera does not offer a microphone and / or headphone socket which means you get no control over the sound. It is probably best to shop for another camera if you want good sound for your video clips.

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Sony W690 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing for the Sony W690 so you need to be careful in rainy or dusty conditions.

Sony W690 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony W690 features a 3" fixed display boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Unfortunately the display is not a touch screen.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specifications for Sony W690 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are quite handy during bright outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera display washed out and hard to see.

Sony W690 Shutter specifications

Sony W690 has the capability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 seconds.

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Sony W690 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Sony W690 has only built in flash with no external flash support.

Sony W690 Autofocusing specifications

Sony W690 has just Contrast Based Auto Focus & doesn't have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more snappier and exact compared with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera features Face detect which can be handy for portrait photography.

It also includes Tracking Auto Focus for subjects on the move. Sony W690 lacks manual focusing. Manual focusing is useful during low light or you want to have more precise focusing control.

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Sony W690 Battery life

The battery life (NP-BN) for the Sony W690 is fashioned to last for 220 shutters according to the CIPA measurements making it about average when compared to it's rivals. The average Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 features the best (470) battery life within this group of cameras.

Here is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras which have the best battery life:

Sony W690 for various forms of photography

The following chart provides a outline of the Sony W690 for various forms of photography. To read more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.

Portrait photography with Sony W690

The Sony W690 has a points tally of 34 which is lousy, meaning that it is just not very good for portrait images. Photographing portraits favors heavily to sensor specs, RAW support in addition to the option to utilize off-camera flash.

Photography Glossary
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files

Sony W690 Street photography advice

Coming in at a moderate rating of 57, the Sony W690 is reasonably appropriate for street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format

Sony W690 Sports photography features

A lousy sports photography points total of 40 indicates the Sony W690 is just not very good for taking photos of sports. A camera needs very good focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus

Sony W690 as a Travel photography camera

Portability is very critical in choosing a camera for travel. All things considered, the Sony W690 gets a very good 68 for a travel camera which makes it a fine pick to buy for your travels.

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MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)

Landscape photography with Sony W690

For anybody planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most important factor will be image quality. The Sony W690 and it's lousy grade of 43 as a landscape camera is just not very good amongst it's competition.

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really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode

Sony W690 Vlogging information

A camera for vlogging preferably should come with a articulating display screen, microphone port and preferably IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Sony W690 is just not very good as a vlog camera as it comes to a lousy score of 31.

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decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack

Sony W690 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the W690, here is a list of the top ranked cameras that fall under the class of Small Sensor Compact.

The chart followed below offers you a bird's eye view of the W690 compared to it's top scoring rivals suggested previously.

Here are a handful of other cameras you may consider as alternate options. To check out a extensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Announced
2012-02-28
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Chip
BIONZ
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW support
Highest native ISO
3200
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range
5cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display size
3"
Display resolution
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology
ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30s
Fastest shutter speed
1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate
1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
3.30 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
142 gr (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions
94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
Other
Battery life
220 photos
Battery style
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NP-BN
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
Single
Price at release
$297