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Sony A290 vs Sony G3

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Previous Model is Sony A230
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
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Sony A290 vs Sony G3 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Sony A290 vs Sony G3, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and G3 (10MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and G3 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The A290 was announced 18 months after the G3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the A290 matches up vs the G3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony G3

 A290 G3 
ReleasedJune 2010January 2009More modern by 18 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Sony A290

 G3 A290 
Display sizing3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony G3

 A290 G3 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 offers outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony G3 has measurements of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A290 vs Sony G3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the A290 against the G3.

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and G3 is 66 and 94 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through specs. The image underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and G3.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A290 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A290 will render more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The younger A290 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A290
Portrait photography with Sony G3
65
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
26
manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony G3
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony G3
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low battery (290 shots)
23
image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000s)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography features
Sony G3 Travel photography features
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
low battery (290 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
50
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A290
Landscape photography with Sony G3
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low battery (290 shots)
no Timelapse recording
36
manual focus
lovely big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging advice
Sony G3 Vlogging advice
9
can't record video
27
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Sony A290 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony G3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-09 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3.5"
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549g (1.21 lb) 185g (0.41 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 615 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $600 $200