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Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Panasonic G6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 122 x 85 x 71mm
  • Revealed April 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G5
  • Successor is Panasonic G7
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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Photography Glossary

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic G6 versus Sony A290, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the G6 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the G6 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The G6 was revealed 2 years after the A290 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G6 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the G6 grades against the A290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G6 over the Sony A290

 G6 A290 
RevealedApril 2013June 2010More modern by 35 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kClearer screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic G6

 A290 G6 

Common features in the Panasonic G6 and Sony A290

 G6 A290 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G6 has exterior dimensions of 122mm x 85mm x 71mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Sony A290 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).

Contrast the Panasonic G6 versus Sony A290 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the G6 versus the A290.

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G6 and A290 is 74 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the G6 and A290.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G6 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Panasonic G6 will show more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer G6 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G6
Portrait photography with Sony A290
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
65
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G6 Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
73
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G6 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
56
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G6
Travel photography with Sony A290
72
offers touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse function
53
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery power (290 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G6 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
67
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse function
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
low battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic G6
Vlogging with Sony A290
73
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
9
no video
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Panasonic G6 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G6 and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-04-24 2010-06-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,036k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 390 grams (0.86 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 85 x 71mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.8") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 61 66
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 11.5
DXO Low light rating 639 615
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 290 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $750 $600