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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced July 2020
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Nikon Z5 and Sony A390, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and A390 (14MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and A390 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The Z5 was released 10 years after the A390 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the Z5 matches up against the A390 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Sony A390

 Z5 A390 
RevealedJuly 2020July 2010Newer by 122 months
Display dimension3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Nikon Z5

 A390 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Sony A390

 Z5 A390 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon Z5 has exterior measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Nikon Z5 and Sony A390 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the Z5 vs the A390.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and A390 is 62 and 66 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The image below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the Z5 and A390.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The Z5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Nikon Z5 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The younger Z5 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography info
Sony A390 Portrait photography info
85
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z5
Street photography with Sony A390
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
heavier than others (675 grams)
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography features
Sony A390 Sports photography features
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (470 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (4.5 frames/s)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 Travel photography advice
Sony A390 Travel photography advice
68
great battery power (470 CIPA)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (24MP)
heavier than others (675g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
53
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (230 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon Z5
Landscape photography with Sony A390
86
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great battery power (470 shots)
has double storage slots
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging advice
Sony A390 Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
heavier than others (675g)
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Sony A390
 Nikon Z5Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Z5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2020-07-20 2010-07-28
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6016 x 4016 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 273 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 15 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.5 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 675 gr (1.49 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life 470 pictures 230 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15c NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Dual Single
Retail pricing $1,399 $500