Sony A290 vs Sony NEX-7

Its time to examine more in depth at the Sony A290 and Sony NEX-7, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The A290 was revealed 18 months earlier than the NEX-7 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the A290 matches up versus the NEX-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A290 Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 provides physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A290 and Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the A290 compared to the NEX-7.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and NEX-7 is 66 and 84 respectively.

Normally, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through specifications. The visual here may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A290 and NEX-7.

To sum up, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony NEX-7 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older A290 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.