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Sony A290 vs Sony A6400

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Revealed January 2019
Photography Glossary

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Sony A290 and Sony A6400, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and A6400 (24MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A290 was brought out 9 years before the A6400 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the A290 scores versus the A6400 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A6400

 A290 A6400 

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Sony A290

 A6400 A290 
RevealedJanuary 2019June 2010Fresher by 104 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony A6400

 A290 A6400 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 offers exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony A6400 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") and a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Check out the Sony A290 and Sony A6400 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the A290 versus the A6400.

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and A6400 is 66 and 83 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The graphic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and A6400.

As you have seen, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony A6400 to provide you with extra detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older A290 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Portrait photography camera
65
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
81
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Street photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
81
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (32,000)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography advice
Sony A6400 Sports photography advice
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
76
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
87
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
features touch focus
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography info
Sony A6400 Landscape photography info
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (32,000)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging info
Sony A6400 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
80
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
no image stabilization
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Sony A290 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony A6400
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Alpha a6400
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2010-06-09 2019-01-15
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 425
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Number of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549g (1.21 lb) 403g (0.89 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 83
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 13.6
DXO Low light rating 615 1431
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 410 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $898