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Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Refreshed by Sony a5000
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Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Sony A290 versus Sony NEX-3N, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A290 was unveiled 3 years before the NEX-3N which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the A290 matches up vs the NEX-3N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony NEX-3N

 A290 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony A290

 NEX-3N A290 
LaunchedFebruary 2013June 2010Newer by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony NEX-3N

 A290 NEX-3N 
Manually focus More exact focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 enjoys exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Sony A290 versus Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the A290 and the NEX-3N.

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and NEX-3N is 66 and 89 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The pic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and NEX-3N.

All in all, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony NEX-3N to resolve more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A290 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography highlights
65
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
66
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography features
Sony NEX-3N Street photography features
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
77
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3N
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low battery power (290 per charge)
53
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery pack (480 per charge)
slow fps (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography features
53
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery power (290 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
71
good battery pack (480 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography factors
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low battery power (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (480 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic socket
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Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony NEX-3N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-06-09 2013-02-25
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 12.5
DXO Low light score 615 1067
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 480 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $399