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Sony A99 II vs Sony A290

Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83
Sony Alpha A99 II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A99
Sony A290
(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
  • Released June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
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Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Overview

Here is a extended analysis of the Sony A99 II vs Sony A290, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the A99 II (42MP) and A290 (14MP) and the A99 II (Full frame) and A290 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The A99 II was introduced 6 years later than the A290 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the A99 II matches up vs the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Sony A290

 A99 II A290 
ReleasedSeptember 2016June 2010Fresher by 77 months
Screen typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A99 II

 A290 A99 II 

Common features in the Sony A99 II and Sony A290

 A99 II A290 
Focus manually More precise focus
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A99 II features outer measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") having a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the A99 II vs the A290.

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A99 II and A290 is 57 and 66 respectively.

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the A99 II and A290.

As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A99 II with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A99 II will give you more detail using its extra 28MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent A99 II will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A99 II Portrait photography features
Sony A290 Portrait photography features
86
focusing manually
sensor resolution is amazing (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
65
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A99 II
Street photography with Sony A290
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony A99 II as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is amazing (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
low battery (490 shots)
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A99 II Travel photography features
Sony A290 Travel photography features
70
weather sealing
has bluetooth
sensor resolution is amazing (42MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery (490 CIPA)
53
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A99 II
Landscape photography with Sony A290
82
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is amazing (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
low battery (490 CIPA)
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
no liveview
bad battery power (290 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A99 II Vlogging details
Sony A290 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic socket
9
no video
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Sony A99 II vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A99 II and Sony A290
 Sony Alpha A99 IISony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A99 II Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2016-09-19 2010-06-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 42 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 7952 x 5304 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 399 9
Cross focus points 79 -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,229 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 849 gr (1.87 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 92 66
DXO Color Depth score 25.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 11.5
DXO Low light score 2317 615
Other
Battery life 490 photos 290 photos
Style of battery NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $3,198 $600