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Sony A290 vs Sony A500

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Sony A290
(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
  • Released June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
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Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Sony A290 vs Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both of them are designed by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A290 was revealed 10 months after the A500 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A290 scores vs the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A500

 A290 A500 
AnnouncedJune 2010August 2009Newer by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A290

 A500 A290 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony A500

 A290 A500 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Sony A290 offers external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 vs Sony A500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the A290 against the A500.

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and A500 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The pic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and A500.

All in all, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony A290 to show extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The newer A290 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
65
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
no liveview
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony A500
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony A500
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery life (290 per charge)
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (290 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
43
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (520 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7")
no liveview
not so great battery life (290 shots)
no Timelapse recording
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (520 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A290
Vlogging with Sony A500
9
lack of video recording
9
can't shoot video
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Sony A290 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony A500
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-06-09 2009-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 64
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 11.6
DXO Low light rating 615 772
Other
Battery life 290 shots 520 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $638