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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-S950SonyCyber-shot DSC-W290
Overview
Released20092009
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution10.1 MP12.1 MP
Largest image3648 × 27364000 × 3000
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range100–320080–3200
Sensor detailOptical 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD, approximately 10.1 million effective / 10.3 million total pixels. Optical format is not a physical dimension; shared instruction manual labels S950 separately from 12.1 MP S9801/2.3-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.1 million effective and 12.4 million total photosites; optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG/Exif 2.21; maximum 3648×2736, with 3:2 3648×2432 and 16:9 3648×2056/1920×1080 settings. No RAW. UK archive mixed 12 MP template entries excludedJPEG, maximum 4000 × 3000 pixels; 4000 × 2672 in 3:2 or 4000 × 2248/1920 × 1080 in 16:9
ISO detail–Auto or ISO 80–3200
Image processor–BIONZ with standard and Plus D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; photographs recorded as JPEG rather than RAW
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens33–132 mm equivalent28–140 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.5–5.6f/3.3–5.2
Optical zoom4×5×
StabilisationElectronic onlyOptical lens stabilisation
Lens detailSony 4× zoom, physical 5.8–23.2 mm F2.5–5.6, equivalent 33–132 mm. Closest focus approximately 5 cm wide / 50 cm telephotoCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 5–25 mm, equivalent to 28–140 mm for photographs; movie field of view equivalent to 31–155 mm in 16:9 or 37–185 mm in 4:3. Conversion lenses/46 mm filters require an optional adapter
AutofocusSingle autofocus; nine-area multi AF or centre AF and distance presets 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity, not continuously adjustable manual focus. Face detection up to eight faces; no AF illuminatorNine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator; semi-manual presets 0.5/1/3/7 m or infinity. Auto/macro focus approximately 10 cm wide or 50 cm telephoto. Face detection up to eight people with child/adult priority, selected-face memory, motion detection and Smile Shutter
ShutterAuto 1/8–1/2000 second; Program auto 1–1/2000 second in exact Hong Kong maker tableSony Germany specifies automatic shutter approximately 2–1/1600 second; preliminary Hong Kong sheet lists Auto 1/4–1/1600 and Program 1–1/1600
Burst detailUp to 100 frames while shutter is held, approximately 1-second recording interval. Focus, exposure and white balance fixed to first frame; flash off and ISO limited to Auto or 100–400. Self-timer burst limited to five frames. No unrestricted sustained rate inferredMaker specifies up to 100 photographs. Sony Germany gives approximately 0.57-second burst intervals, while the English manual specifies approximately 1.8 seconds; What Digital Camera measured nearly 2 fps. Main frame rate omitted because published maker intervals conflict
Stabilisation detailElectronic SteadyShot only, not optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Handbook excludes flash use and Easy Shooting; processing takes additional timeOptical SteadyShot
FlashAuto ISO range approximately 0.5–3.5 m wide / 0.5–1.5 m telephoto. Forced flash, slow sync and off; red-eye reduction availableBuilt-in flash with Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and red-eye reduction; final manual ISO Auto range approximately 0.2–3 m wide or 0.5–1.9 m telephoto
Exposure controlsAuto, Easy Shooting, Program auto, High Sensitivity and six scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Snow. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering. ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200Intelligent Auto, Easy, Program and scene selections; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps and exposure bracketing. iSCN recognises eight scene types and Advanced mode can capture two alternative exposures
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240 at 30 fps1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detailAVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at approximately 30 fps with mono sound. Movie image size fixed to 320×240 in exact instruction manual, overriding UK archive mixed 640×480 template entriesMPEG-4 Visual 1280 × 720 Fine 9 Mbps or Standard 6 Mbps, or 640 × 480 VGA 3 Mbps; Sony US launch specifies 30 fps. Manual limits continuous movies to approximately 29 minutes; 720p requires Memory Stick PRO Duo. Optical zoom unavailable during recording (What Digital Camera)
Audio–Built-in mono microphone and speaker; multi-connector supports stereo audio output
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size2.7″3″
Screen dots230,400230,400
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 2.7-inch TFT, 230,400 dots; dots are not captured image pixels. No tilting or touchscreen; histogram displayFixed 3.0-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots; no optical or electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder detailNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD–
Connections and design
BluetoothNoNo
Battery life (maker's claim)330 photographs300 photographs
Body weight135 g145 g
Release detailSony Hong Kong January 16 2009 release planned availability from early February; German release also planned February. Actual CDR Electronics October 23 2009 exact-model sale notice and contemporary full ColorFoto test support year 2009. First retail month/day unresolved, so year precision retained. No predecessor inferred from model numberingReleased in 2009. Sony Hong Kong scheduled availability for the end of March 2009; Sony US scheduled April purchase availability with March pre-orders. These announcements establish planned months rather than confirming the actual first retail month
Recording mediaApproximately 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo (no enhanced PRO-HG transfer performance). No card suppliedApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo. No SD card slot
PortsCombined USB/A/V OUT terminal: Hi-Speed USB 2.0, mono audio and NTSC/PAL composite video. Exact instruction manual overrides UK archive A/V No template entry. PictBridge compatible; no external microphone inputType2b multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, AV and DC input; HD component output needs optional adapter cable, rather than an HDMI socket
Battery life detailSupplied NP-BK1 rechargeable lithium-ion pack: approximately 330 still images / 165 minutes CIPA at 25°C. Viewing claim 4800 images / 240 minutes is a separate playback test, not shooting enduranceSupplied NP-BG1, typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh and minimum 3.3 Wh/910 mAh; optional NP-FG1 supported. Exact W290 manual CIPA claim approximately 300 photographs/150 minutes with supplied fully charged battery
ChargingExternal BC-CSK or BC-CSKA charger supplied; USB is not listed as a charging method. Optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separateExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger, approximately 330 minutes full or 270 minutes normal charge at 25°C; optional AC-LS5K adapter
Dimensions93.1×55.7×23.8 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions97.6 × 57.4 × 22.6 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions, in final manual
Weight detail135 g body only in maker UK/Hong Kong tables; approximately 157 g including NP-BK1 battery pack and strap, etc. in exact instruction manual145 g body-only in Sony Germany specifications; approximately 174 g including NP-BG1 and Memory Stick Duo in the exact W290 manual entry
Materials–Metal body
Colours–Silver, black, blue or bronze
In the boxNP-BK1 battery, BC-CSK/BC-CSKA charger (region-dependent), dedicated USB cable, A/V cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; Memory Stick Duo separateNP-BG1, external battery charger, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card not supplied

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