Sony A7 vs Sony A290
78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74


66 Imaging
53 Features
47 Overall
50
Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 50 - 25600
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
- Launched January 2014
- Replacement is Sony A7 II
(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
- Replaced the Sony A230

Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Overview
Its time to examine more closely at the Sony A7 versus Sony A290, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both manufactured by Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the A7 (24MP) and A290 (14MP) and the A7 (Full frame) and A290 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

The A7 was brought out 3 years after the A290 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the A7 grades vs the A290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha A7 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are provided at Sony A7 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sony A290
A7 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | January 2014 | ![]() | June 2010 | More modern by 45 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 1230k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+1000k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A7
A290 | A7 |
---|
Common features in the Sony A7 and Sony A290
A7 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither offers selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | No Touch friendly screen |
Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A7 offers outside measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).
Examine the Sony A7 versus Sony A290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the A7 compared to the A290.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A7 and A290 is 78 and 66 respectively.

Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The pic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A7 and A290.
As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A7 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony A7 will resolve more detail having its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger A7 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony A290 Specifications
Sony Alpha A7 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Sony | Sony |
Model type | Sony Alpha A7 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 |
Category | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level DSLR |
Launched | 2014-01-22 | 2010-06-09 |
Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Bionz X | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Full frame | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 35.8 x 23.9mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 855.6mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 24 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 6000 x 4000 | 4592 x 3056 |
Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 50 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 117 | 9 |
Cross type focus points | 25 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Sony E | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Amount of lenses | 121 | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3" | 2.7" |
Display resolution | 1,230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | Xtra Fine LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,359k dots | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.71x | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 5.0 frames/s | 3.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | no built-in flash | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/250s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | - |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 474 gr (1.04 lbs) | 549 gr (1.21 lbs) |
Dimensions | 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 90 | 66 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 24.8 | 22.6 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 14.2 | 11.5 |
DXO Low light rating | 2248 | 615 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 340 images | 290 images |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NP-FW50 | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | With downloadable app | |
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo | Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail price | $798 | $600 |