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Pentax Q vs Sony A390

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Successor is Pentax Q10
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
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Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Pentax Q versus Sony A390, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Q (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the Q (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The Q was manufactured 11 months after the A390 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the Q matches up vs the A390 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony A390

 Q A390 
LaunchedJune 2011July 2010More modern by 11 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Pentax Q

 A390 Q 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony A390

 Q A390 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax Q has got external dimensions 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 A390 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Pentax Q versus Sony A390 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the Q against the A390.

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the Q and A390 is 93 and 66 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Q and A390.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Q because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A390 will give extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger Q provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q Portrait photography features
Sony A390 Portrait photography features
45
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q as a Street photography camera
Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (180 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography details
Sony A390 Sports photography details
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
terrible battery (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography info
Sony A390 Travel photography info
57
lighter than competitors (180 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (230 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (230 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography advice
Sony A390 Landscape photography advice
51
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery (230 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax Q
Vlogging with Sony A390
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (180 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
9
no video shooting
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Pentax Q vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony A390
 Pentax QSony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-06-23 2010-07-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 8 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180g (0.40 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 47 66
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 11.5
DXO Low light score 189 607
Other
Battery life 230 shots 230 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $695 $500