Sony A290 vs Sony a1

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony A290 and Sony a1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Pro Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) have different sensor measurements.

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The A290 was announced 11 years earlier than the a1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the A290 scores vs the a1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 & Sony Alpha a1. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony A290 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A290 provides outer 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 a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check out the Sony A290 and Sony a1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the A290 versus the a1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and a1 is 66 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and a1.

As you can see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A290 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony a1 will provide extra detail with its extra 36MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.