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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390

Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40
Samsung MV800 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Samsung MV800
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 121g - 92 x 56 x 10mm
  • Launched September 2011
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
  • Announced July 2010
  • Previous Model is Sony A380
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the MV800 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is very well matched but the MV800 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The MV800 was released 14 months after the A390 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung MV800 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the MV800 scores versus the A390 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung MV800 over the Sony A390

 MV800 A390 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011July 2010Newer by 14 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Samsung MV800

 A390 MV800 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Samsung MV800 and Sony A390

 MV800 A390 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Samsung MV800 enjoys physical dimensions of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the MV800 against the A390.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the MV800 and A390 is 97 and 66 respectively.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specifications. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the MV800 and A390.

To sum up, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The MV800 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Samsung MV800 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more recent MV800 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung MV800
Portrait photography with Sony A390
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung MV800
Street photography with Sony A390
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung MV800
Sports photography with Sony A390
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung MV800 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A390 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
offers touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (230 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung MV800 Landscape photography details
Sony A390 Landscape photography details
43
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung MV800 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
9
no video recording
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung MV800 and Sony A390
 Samsung MV800Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung MV800 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-09-01 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.20 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30/15 fps), 640 x 480 (30/15 fps), 320 x 240 (30/15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 grams (0.27 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 92 x 56 x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID BP70 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Micro SD SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $499 $500