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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290

Portability
66
Imaging
64
Features
77
Overall
69
Nikon D5200 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Nikon D5200
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 555g - 129 x 98 x 78mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Older Model is Nikon D5100
  • Later Model is Nikon D5300
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Nikon D5200 and Sony A290, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the D5200 (24MP) and A290 (14MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D5200 was announced 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the D5200 matches up vs the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D5200 over the Sony A290

 D5200 A290 
ReleasedMay 2013June 2010More recent by 36 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Nikon D5200

 A290 D5200 

Common features in the Nikon D5200 and Sony A290

 D5200 A290 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5200 offers physical dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Nikon D5200 and Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the D5200 and the A290.

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the D5200 and A290 is 66 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5200 and A290.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon D5200 to render extra detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The newer D5200 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5200 Portrait photography advice
Sony A290 Portrait photography advice
78
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
65
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5200 as a Street photography camera
Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
68
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5200 Sports photography info
Sony A290 Sports photography info
60
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5200 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
69
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
53
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5200 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
69
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3")
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5200 Vlogging info
Sony A290 Vlogging info
71
display is selfie friendly
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
does not have image stabilization
9
can't record video
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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5200 and Sony A290
 Nikon D5200Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5200 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-05-16 2010-06-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 39 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 555g (1.22 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 84 66
DXO Color Depth rating 24.2 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 11.5
DXO Low light rating 1284 615
Other
Battery life 500 shots 290 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $595 $600