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Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290

Portability
55
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65
Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ1000 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 808g - 136 x 97 x 132mm
  • Launched February 2019
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ1000
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
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Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic FZ1000 II versus Sony A290, one is a Large Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the FZ1000 II (20MP) and A290 (14MP) and the FZ1000 II (1") and A290 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The FZ1000 II was brought out 8 years after the A290 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ1000 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the FZ1000 II matches up versus the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 II over the Sony A290

 FZ1000 II A290 
AnnouncedFebruary 2019June 2010More modern by 106 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1240k230kCrisper screen (+1010k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic FZ1000 II

 A290 FZ1000 II 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ1000 II and Sony A290

 FZ1000 II A290 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ1000 II features external measurements of 136mm x 97mm x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2") accompanied by a weight of 808 grams (1.78 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ1000 II versus Sony A290 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the FZ1000 II vs the A290.

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ1000 II and A290 is 55 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ1000 II and A290.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FZ1000 II featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Panasonic FZ1000 II will offer more detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern FZ1000 II is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ1000 II
Portrait photography with Sony A290
72
manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
65
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 II as a Street photography camera
Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
features touch to focus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 II Sports photography highlights
Sony A290 Sports photography highlights
69
incredible zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
offers tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 II Travel photography factors
Sony A290 Travel photography factors
67
has bluetooth
features touch to focus
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (400mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (290 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 II as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
58
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ1000 II
Vlogging with Sony A290
67
pretty wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
slow max aperture (f2.8)
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ1000 II and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 IISony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Large Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2019-02-18 2010-06-09
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-400mm (16.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.0 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 1,240 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.50 m (with Auto ISO) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, 1st / 2nd Slow Sync. Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 808 grams (1.78 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 97 x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 615
Other
Battery life 350 shots 290 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLC12PP NP-FH50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $898 $600