Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290
77 Imaging
54 Features
43 Overall
49
66 Imaging
53 Features
47 Overall
50
Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 15MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 0 - 0
- No Video
- Sigma SA Mount
- n/ag - 146 x 113 x 80mm
- Launched September 2010
- Renewed by Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
- Revealed June 2010
- Replaced the Sony A230
Photography Glossary Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Overview
Its time to look a little more closely at the Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Sigma and Sony. The resolution of the SD1 (15MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe SD1 was released 4 months after the A290 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sigma SD1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SD1 matches up against the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sigma SD1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are available at Sigma SD1 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 over the Sony A290
| SD1 | A290 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display sizing | 3" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") | |
| Display resolution | 460k | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sigma SD1
| A290 | SD1 |
|---|
Common features in the Sigma SD1 and Sony A290
| SD1 | A290 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | September 2010 | June 2010 | Similar age | |
| Manual focus | Dial exact focusing | |||
| Display type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed display | |
| Selfie screen | Lack of selfie screen | |||
| Touch display | Lack of Touch display |
Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sigma SD1 offers external measurements of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) while the Sony A290 has proportions 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 Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SD1 versus the A290.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SD1 and A290 is 77 and 66 respectively.
Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through technical specs. The image here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD1 and A290.
As you have seen, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sigma SD1 to give greater detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively.
Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthStreet Comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesSports Comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTravel Comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsLandscape Comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banVlogging Comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
Sigma SD1 vs Sony A290 Specifications
| Sigma SD1 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Manufacturer | Sigma | Sony |
| Model type | Sigma SD1 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 |
| Category | Advanced DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Launched | 2010-09-21 | 2010-06-09 |
| Body design | Mid-size SLR | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | Dual True II | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CMOS (Foveon X3) | CCD |
| Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 24 x 16mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
| Sensor area | 384.0mm² | 369.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 15MP | 14MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | - | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Max resolution | 4800 x 3200 | 4592 x 3056 |
| Max native ISO | - | 3200 |
| Lowest native ISO | - | 100 |
| RAW data | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Selective autofocus | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Autofocus live view | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 11 | 9 |
| Cross type focus points | 2 | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Sigma SA | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Amount of lenses | 76 | 143 |
| Crop factor | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen size | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
| Resolution of screen | 460k dot | 230k dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch function | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentamirror) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 96 percent | 95 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.64x | 0.55x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Max shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
| Continuous shutter speed | 5.0 frames per second | 3.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | - | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash modes | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | - | 1/160 seconds |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Max video resolution | None | None |
| Mic input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | - | 549 grams (1.21 pounds) |
| Dimensions | 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | not tested | 66 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 22.6 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.5 |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | 615 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 290 images |
| Battery format | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | NP-FH50 |
| Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) | Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Launch price | $2,339 | $600 |