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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-W290SonyCyber-shot DSC-W350
Overview
Released2009January 2010
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution12.1 MP14.1 MP
Largest image4000 × 30004320 × 3240
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–320080–3200
Sensor detail1/2.3-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.1 million effective and 12.4 million total photosites; optical format is not physical dimensions1/2.3-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 14.1 million effective and 14.5 million total photosites; optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG, maximum 4000 × 3000 pixels; 4000 × 2672 in 3:2 or 4000 × 2248/1920 × 1080 in 16:9JPEG, maximum 4320 × 3240; 16:9 images 4320 × 2432 or 1920 × 1080. Sweep Panorama records 4912 × 1080 or 7152 × 1080 horizontally, 3424 × 1920 or 4912 × 1920 vertically
ISO detailAuto or ISO 80–3200Auto or ISO 80–3200 at full resolution
Image processorBIONZ with standard and Plus D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; photographs recorded as JPEG rather than RAWBIONZ with standard and Plus D-range optimisation, Clear RAW NR and slow-shutter noise reduction; still photographs recorded as JPEG rather than RAW
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens28–140 mm equivalent26–105 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.3–5.2f/2.7–5.7
Optical zoom5×4×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Lens detailCarl 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 adapterCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, actual 4.7–18.8 mm, equivalent to 26–105 mm for stills; six elements in five groups including three aspherical elements. Movie field of view equivalent to 30–122 mm in 16:9 or 37–149 mm in 4:3. No conversion-lens or filter attachment
AutofocusNine-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 ShutterNine-area Multipoint, centre or spot AF with illuminator; auto/macro focus approximately 4 cm wide or 60 cm telephoto. Face detection with child/adult priority, Smile Shutter, blink detection and face-triggered self-timer
ShutterSony Germany specifies automatic shutter approximately 2–1/1600 second; preliminary Hong Kong sheet lists Auto 1/4–1/1600 and Program 1–1/1600Auto approximately 2–1/1600 second; Program Auto 1–1/1600 second
Burst detailMaker 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 conflictSony Japan specifies approximately 1.45 fps at maximum resolution for up to four frames. Handbook permits up to 100 successive images with slower intervals; focus, white balance and exposure remain fixed from the first frame and flash is disabled. CameraLabs measured about 1.6 fps for four frames, then one frame every 1.8 seconds
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShotOptical SteadyShot
FlashBuilt-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 telephotoBuilt-in flash with Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and red-eye reduction; ISO Auto range approximately 0.2–3.8 m wide or 0.6–1.9 m telephoto
Exposure controlsIntelligent 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 exposuresIntelligent Auto, Easy, Program Auto, Sweep Panorama and ten scene selections; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. One-push custom white balance; shutter and aperture remain automatic
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detailMPEG-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)MPEG-4 Visual progressive 1280 × 720 at approximately 30 fps, Fine 9 Mbps or Standard 6 Mbps; VGA 640 × 480 at approximately 30 fps and 3 Mbps. AAC audio in MP4 files. Optical zoom available during movies; continuous recording approximately 29 minutes
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone and speaker; multi-connector supports stereo audio outputBuilt-in mono microphone and speaker; mono AV audio output
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size3″2.7″
Screen dots230,400230,400
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 3.0-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots; no optical or electronic viewfinderFixed 2.7-type Clear Photo TFT LCD, 230400 dots; no optical or electronic viewfinder
Connections and design
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)300 photographs240 photographs
Body weight145 g100 g
Release detailReleased 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 monthSony Hong Kong January 2010 announcement describes the W350 as available at its retail price, corroborated by Imaging Resource January availability. Sony Japan scheduled 5 February 2010; its April announcement explicitly describes the original W350 as already released. Exact first global retail day unconfirmed
Recording mediaApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo. No SD card slotApproximately 45 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo, SD, SDHC and SDXC. For movies, Sony recommends PRO Duo Mark2, PRO-HG Duo or SD-family Class4 or faster
PortsType2b multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, AV and DC input; HD component output needs optional adapter cable, rather than an HDMI socketType3 multi-use connector for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, AV, DC input and optional HD component cable; no HDMI socket
Battery life detailSupplied 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 batterySupplied NP-BN1, typical 2.3 Wh/630 mAh and minimum 2.2 Wh/600 mAh. Exact W350 manual CIPA claim approximately 240 photographs/120 minutes at 25°C, Normal display, fully charged battery, Memory Stick PRO Duo, alternating zoom ends, flash every second shot and power cycle every ten
ChargingExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger, approximately 330 minutes full or 270 minutes normal charge at 25°C; optional AC-LS5K adapterExternal BC-CSN/BC-CSNB battery charger; optional AC-LS5 AC adapter
Dimensions97.6 × 57.4 × 22.6 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions, in final manual90.7 × 51.5 × 19.4 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA dimensions; manual gives 16.7 mm depth excluding protrusions
Weight detail145 g body-only in Sony Germany specifications; approximately 174 g including NP-BG1 and Memory Stick Duo in the exact W290 manual entryApproximately 100 g body-only in Sony Japan specifications; approximately 117 g including NP-BN1 and Memory Stick Duo
MaterialsMetal body–
ColoursSilver, black, blue or bronzeSilver, black, pink, gold or blue; regional availability varies
In the boxNP-BG1, external battery charger, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card not suppliedNP-BN1, external battery charger, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card sold separately

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