Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
61
Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs
(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
(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
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).
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe 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.
Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The entire galleries are available at Sony A290 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | October 2011 | June 2010 | More recent by 16 months | |
Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display | |
Display dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") | |
Display resolution | 920k | 230k | Sharper 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.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.
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 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 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | Sony 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 |