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Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390

Portability
69
Imaging
51
Features
36
Overall
45
Nikon D3000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Nikon D3000
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 536g - 126 x 97 x 64mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D40
  • Replacement is Nikon D3100
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
  • Released July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
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Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Nikon D3000 versus Sony A390, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the D3000 (10MP) and A390 (14MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D3000 was announced 7 months earlier than the A390 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the D3000 matches up against the A390 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3000 over the Sony A390

 D3000 A390 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Nikon D3000

 A390 D3000 
ReleasedJuly 2010December 2009More recent by 7 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon D3000 and Sony A390

 D3000 A390 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3000 enjoys outer measurements of 126mm x 97mm x 64mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 536 grams (1.18 lbs) and the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D3000 versus Sony A390 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the D3000 vs the A390.

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3000 and A390 is 69 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The visual below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the D3000 and A390.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony A390 to render greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older D3000 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3000 Portrait photography information
Sony A390 Portrait photography information
54
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3000 Street photography advice
Sony A390 Street photography advice
58
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3000 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
39
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3000 Travel photography features
Sony A390 Travel photography features
45
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3000
Landscape photography with Sony A390
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low battery (230 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3000 Vlogging information
Sony A390 Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
9
no video recording
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Nikon D3000 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3000 and Sony A390
 Nikon D3000Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2009-12-11 2010-07-28
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3872 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 536g (1.18 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 126 x 97 x 64mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 62 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 11.5
DXO Low light rating 563 607
Other
Battery life 500 shots 230 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9a NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $0 $500