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Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390

Portability
67
Imaging
63
Features
63
Overall
63
Nikon D3200 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Nikon D3200
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 125 x 96 x 77mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Older Model is Nikon D3100
  • Newer Model is Nikon D3300
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
  • Earlier Model is Sony A380
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Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Nikon D3200 and Sony A390, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the D3200 (24MP) and A390 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The D3200 was announced 2 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the D3200 scores versus the A390 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3200 over the Sony A390

 D3200 A390 
LaunchedJuly 2012July 2010More recent by 25 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Nikon D3200

 A390 D3200 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon D3200 and Sony A390

 D3200 A390 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon D3200 has got outer measurements of 125mm x 96mm x 77mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") and a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D3200 and Sony A390 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the D3200 against the A390.

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3200 and A390 is 67 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The photograph below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the D3200 and A390.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Nikon D3200 to provide greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent D3200 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3200 Portrait photography details
Sony A390 Portrait photography details
77
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3200 as a Street photography camera
Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
59
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3200 Sports photography info
Sony A390 Sports photography info
64
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3200 Travel photography details
Sony A390 Travel photography details
59
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (230 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3200 Landscape photography features
Sony A390 Landscape photography features
69
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3200 Vlogging details
Sony A390 Vlogging details
27
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon D3200 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3200 and Sony A390
 Nikon D3200Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3200 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-07-25 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.2 x 15.4mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 357.3mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6016 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD with 160� viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505g (1.11 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 96 x 77mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 81 66
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.2 11.5
DXO Low light rating 1131 607
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 230 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $530 $500