Pentax Q vs Sony A290

Lets look a little more closely at the Pentax Q vs Sony A290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the Q (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very similar but the Q (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The Q was unveiled 13 months after the A290 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the Q scores versus the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Q & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The full galleries are provided at Pentax Q Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax Q provides physical measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 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 Pentax Q vs Sony A290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the Q versus the A290.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the Q and A290 is 93 and 66 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The pic underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the Q and A290.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Q having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A290 will deliver extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger Q should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.