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Sony A290 vs Sony H300

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
Sony H300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3-5.9) lens
  • 590g - 130 x 95 x 122mm
  • Launched February 2014
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Sony A290 vs Sony H300 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Sony A290 versus Sony H300, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and H300 (20MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and H300 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the H300 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the A290 matches up vs the H300 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony H300

 A290 H300 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony H300 over the Sony A290

 H300 A290 
LaunchedFebruary 2014June 2010More modern by 44 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony H300

 A290 H300 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. 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) and the Sony H300 has measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") along with a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 versus Sony H300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the A290 vs the H300.

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and H300 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing specs. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and H300.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A290 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony H300 will produce extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony H300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography highlights
Sony H300 Portrait photography highlights
65
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
40
MP count good (20 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography features
Sony H300 Street photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
43
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (590 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography information
Sony H300 Sports photography information
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
50
amazing zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
great battery life (350 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A290
Travel photography with Sony H300
53
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
56
great battery life (350 shots)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (875mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (590 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony H300 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
no liveview feature
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
47
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
great battery life (350 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging details
Sony H300 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
24
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (590 grams)
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Sony A290 vs Sony H300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony H300
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-06-09 2014-02-13
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz(R)
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 5152 x 3864
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3-5.9
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder resolution - 201 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 grams (1.21 pounds) 590 grams (1.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 130 x 95 x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8")
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 350 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (Off, 10 sec, 2 sec, portrait1, portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $249