• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 224.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Sony DSC-W290 advantages over Canon N

  • Less expensive
    $249 vs $300 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 300 vs 200 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.

Canon N advantages over Sony DSC-W290

  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • More telephoto lens reach
    224 mm vs 140 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    461k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    15 vs 2 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    2.3 fps vs 1.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    6400 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Neither provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Buy From

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Buy the Sony DSC-W290

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Buy the Canon N
Canon N

Review Excerpt

  • Head-turning (funky, but cool) design and solid build; 8x optical zoom lens with 28-224m-equivalent reach; Built-in Wi-Fi for easy image sharing (Facebook Ready version posts directly to the social site); Full HD 1080p video at 24fps.

  • Unintuitive (almost clumsy) physical controls; Inconsistent exposure and decision-making in Auto mode; Image quality not that much better than good smartphone cameras; Poor battery life (just 200 shots); Only uses microSD cards; Weak LED flash.

  • Read our Canon N Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSC-W170

Sony DSC-W290
Sony DSC-W170
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More pixels
  • $225
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony DSC-W290 vs Sony DSC-W170

Canon N
Sony DSC-W170
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $225
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon N vs Sony DSC-W170

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FS25S

Sony DSC-W290
Panasonic DMC-FS25S
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Manual focus
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $175
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Longer exposure
  • Higher extended ISO

Compare Sony DSC-W290 vs Panasonic DMC-FS25S

Canon N
Panasonic DMC-FS25S
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $175
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon N vs Panasonic DMC-FS25S

Compared to Canon SD970 IS

Sony DSC-W290
Canon SD970 IS
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Manual focus
  • $170
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • HDMI out

Compare Sony DSC-W290 vs Canon SD970 IS

Canon N
Canon SD970 IS
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $170
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • HDMI out

Compare Canon N vs Canon SD970 IS

Compared to Canon 330 HS

Sony DSC-W290
Canon 330 HS
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Manual focus
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony DSC-W290 vs Canon 330 HS

Canon N
Canon 330 HS
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Canon N vs Canon 330 HS

Compared to Canon N2

Sony DSC-W290
Canon N2
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSC-W290 vs Canon N2

Canon N
Canon N2
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon N vs Canon N2

Compare Other Cameras?