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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-W290SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20092015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution12.1 MP18.2 MP
Largest image4000 × 30004896 × 3672
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 back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS; approximately 18.2 million effective and 21.1 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 with Fine or Standard compression; maximum 4896 × 3672 in 4:3, 4896 × 3264 in 3:2, 4896 × 2752 in 16:9 or 3664 × 3664 in 1:1. Sweep Panorama standard, wide or 360-degree up to 11520 × 1080
ISO detailAuto or ISO 80–3200Single-exposure settings ISO 80–3200, Auto ISO 80–3200. Multi Frame NR extends to ISO 6400/12800 through processed overlaid burst exposures
Image processorBIONZ with standard and Plus D-range optimisation and Clear RAW NR; photographs recorded as JPEG rather than RAWBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens28–140 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.3–5.2f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom5×30×
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 adapterZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* thirty-times optical zoom, eleven elements in ten groups including five aspherical elements; five-blade iris, actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent 24–720 mm in 4:3, 25–750 mm in 3:2, 26.5–795 mm in 16:9 or 27.5–825 mm in 1:1. Movie 16:9 Standard 26.5–795 mm, Active 28–1180 mm, Intelligent Active 31–1210 mm; 4:3 Standard 32.5–975 mm, Active 34.5–1450 mm, Intelligent Active 38–1480 mm
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 ShutterContrast-detection AF-S; AF-C only in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point Wide, centre, Flexible Spot S/M/L and Expand Flexible Spot, with Lock-on AF; approximately 5 cm minimum focus wide or 250 cm telephoto
ShutterSony Germany specifies automatic shutter approximately 2–1/1600 second; preliminary Hong Kong sheet lists Auto 1/4–1/1600 and Program 1–1/1600Intelligent Auto 4–1/2000 second; Program Auto 1–1/2000 second; aperture priority 8–1/2000 second; shutter priority and manual 30–1/2000 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 conflictMaximum approximately 10 fps at full resolution for ten frames; this is a brief buffered burst rather than sustained continuous shooting. Some modes prevent burst shooting, and flash reduces its speed
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShotOptical SteadyShot for photographs. Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic compensation, including rotation correction; Sony’s five-axis launch claim applies to movies and includes electronic correction
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 manually raised pop-up flash, Auto, forced, slow-sync, rear-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3 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, Superior Auto, Program Auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, Memory Recall 1/2/3, scenes, panorama and automatic/scene movie modes. ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; wide-angle F3.5–F8 in aperture priority or manual. Thirteen still-image Picture Effects
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 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)Maximum 1920 × 1080 progressive at 60p NTSC or 50p PAL. XAVC S up to 50 Mbps; AVCHD up to 28 Mbps and MP4 up to 28 Mbps. Japan also lists 1080p30/p24 XAVC S, interlaced AVCHD and 720p30 MP4; regional frame rates differ and PAL/NTSC can be switched. XAVC S requires a Class 10 or faster SDXC card. Approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 28M reaches its 4 GB limit in approximately 20 minutes. Optical zoom works during recording; 4K output is still photographs only
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone and speaker; multi-connector supports stereo audio outputBuilt-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; XAVC S LPCM two-channel, AVCHD Dolby Digital two-channel or MP4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots230,400921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 3.0-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots; no optical or electronic viewfinder3.0-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD with 921600 dots, manual five-step brightness; tilts upward approximately 180 degrees for self-portraits. No touchscreen or viewfinder
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)300 photographs400 photographs
Body weight145 g209 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 monthReleased in 2015. Sony’s 7 May Hong Kong announcement scheduled mid-June launch after a pre-order period; the prospective date does not establish the actual first on-sale day or month
Recording mediaApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo. No SD card slotSD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support, microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC with adapters, Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro with an adapter
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 socketMulti/micro-USB terminal with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; micro-HDMI output
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC Forum Type 3 Tag for one-touch pairing; smartphone transfer/remote control, TV viewing and computer transfer with compatible software. PlayMemories Camera Apps support and Eye-Fi; no GPS
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-BX1; approximately 400 photographs or 200 minutes under CIPA conditions, approximately 75 minutes actual movie use or 110 minutes continuous movie use, distinct from per-clip limits
ChargingExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger, approximately 330 minutes full or 270 minutes normal charge at 25°C; optional AC-LS5K adapterIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
Dimensions97.6 × 57.4 × 22.6 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions, in final manual101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
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 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
MaterialsMetal body–
ColoursSilver, black, blue or bronzeBlack, white or red; regional choices differ
In the boxNP-BG1, external battery charger, multi-use USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD-ROM and instructions; memory card not suppliedNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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