Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-3N

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A290 Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.