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Sony A9 vs Sony A390

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
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Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Sony A9 versus Sony A390, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and A390 (14MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and A390 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The A9 was launched 6 years later than the A390 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the A9 scores vs the A390 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony A390

 A9 A390 
IntroducedApril 2017July 2010Fresher by 82 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kCrisper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony A9

 A390 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony A390

 A9 A390 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A9 has got outer measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Sony A9 versus Sony A390 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the A9 against the A390.

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A9 and A390 is 65 and 66 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing only by reading specs. The graphic underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A9 and A390.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A9 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A9 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern A9 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 Portrait photography features
Sony A390 Portrait photography features
83
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A9
Street photography with Sony A390
79
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
76
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
86
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max fps (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery life (650 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A9
Travel photography with Sony A390
73
good battery life (650 per charge)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
good MP (24MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
53
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (230 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A390 Landscape photography highlights
85
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery life (650 shots)
2 card slots
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging features
Sony A390 Vlogging features
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
9
can't record video
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Sony A9 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony A390
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2017-04-19 2010-07-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,440 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Mic 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 673g (1.48 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 92 66
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 11.5
DXO Low light rating 3517 607
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 230 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Dual Single
Launch cost $4,498 $500