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Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix S6500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Nikon S6500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-300mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 95 x 58 x 26mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A380
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Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Nikon S6500 versus Sony A390, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the S6500 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the S6500 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The S6500 was brought out 2 years after the A390 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon S6500 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the S6500 grades vs the A390 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S6500 over the Sony A390

 S6500 A390 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2010More modern by 30 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Nikon S6500

 A390 S6500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon S6500 and Sony A390

 S6500 A390 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S6500 features outer dimensions of 95mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Nikon S6500 versus Sony A390 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the S6500 versus the A390.

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S6500 and A390 is 92 and 66 respectively.

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The image here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S6500 and A390.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S6500 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Nikon S6500 will produce extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern S6500 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S6500 Portrait photography details
Sony A390 Portrait photography details
44
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon S6500 Street photography info
Sony A390 Street photography info
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S6500
Sports photography with Sony A390
50
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S6500 Travel photography info
Sony A390 Travel photography info
69
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
53
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
50
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse function
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery (230 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S6500 Vlogging advice
Sony A390 Vlogging advice
34
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
9
no video shooting
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Nikon S6500 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S6500 and Sony A390
 Nikon Coolpix S6500Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S6500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-01-08 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 pounds) 549 gr (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 58 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $170 $500