Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

56

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

Size
Really small
Compact 98x57x23 mm
Thickness
Thin
0.9"
Weight
Light-weight
167 g
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

48

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Size
Really small
Compact 103x60x33 mm
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Zoom More zoom 12x vs 5x
Help
Around 6x more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 25 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Macro focus Much better macro capability 3 cm vs 10 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 3.3x closer to the lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 2s
Help
30x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1600s
Help
20% faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Advantages of the Sony DSC-W290

Size Significantly smaller 98x57x23 mm vs 103x60x33 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 0.9" vs 1.3"
Help
More than 30% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 167 g vs 229 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The DSC-W290's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-W290
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
48 vs 56
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a travel zoom with a compact.

advice

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2
votes
by Felica-Tortorici last month
Canon T3 vs Sony DSC-W290

I'm a relative beginner, I bought an SLR several years ago, then my first digital point and shoot ...

3 people recommend the Sony DSC-W290:

"I would agree with what Phil said, save your money and use the W290 for this trip, and perhaps buy..."

"If you already have the Cyber-shot DSC-W290 then I'd suggest just sticking with it. Presumably, yo..."

One person recommends the Canon T3:

" i recommend the T3. Despite it being heavier and bigger, you want to get the best quality pictur..."

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant shared competitors found.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$290 - $350

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Lower true resolution
Longest exposure Much shorter max exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom

$328

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom More zoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Travel zoom

$298

Size Slightly smaller
Weight Lighter
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$361

GPS Has a GPS
Weight Lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$159 - $271

Zoom More zoom
Wide angle Better wide angle
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Size Much larger
Sony Cybershot DSC-W570

Sony Cybershot W570

Ultra compact

$135

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350

Ultra compact

$164 - $183

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Size Smaller
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200

Compact

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen size Much smaller screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Ultra compact

$285

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

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