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Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Old Model is Sony A230
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Sony A290 and Sony NEX-5N, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The A290 was brought out 16 months earlier than the NEX-5N making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the A290 matches up against the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A290 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A290

 NEX-5N A290 
AnnouncedOctober 2011June 2010More recent by 16 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony NEX-5N

 A290 NEX-5N 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 comes with physical dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Sony A290 and Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the A290 versus the NEX-5N.

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and NEX-5N is 66 and 89 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and NEX-5N.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony NEX-5N to offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos more aggressively. The older A290 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography highlights
65
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
no liveview
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Street photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
80
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery (290 shots)
58
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery pack (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (290 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
70
good battery pack (460 per charge)
includes focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no liveview
bad battery (290 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A290
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
9
lack of video recording
33
touch screen
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone port
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Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-06-09 2011-10-03
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Available lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 77
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 12.7
DXO Low light score 615 1079
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 460 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $600 $550