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Sony A290 vs Sony H50

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front
Portability
69
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 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
  • Superseded the Sony A230
Sony H50
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-465mm (F2.7-4.5) lens
  • 547g - 116 x 81 x 86mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Sony A290 vs Sony H50 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A290 versus Sony H50, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and H50 (9MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and H50 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The A290 was announced 17 months later than the H50 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the A290 scores versus the H50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony H50

 A290 H50 
AnnouncedJune 2010January 2009Fresher by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony H50 over the Sony A290

 H50 A290 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony H50

 A290 H50 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A290 comes with external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony H50 has sizing of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") along with a weight of 547 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Sony A290 versus Sony H50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the A290 versus the H50.

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and H50 is 66 and 69 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and H50.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A290 using its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony A290 will show more detail with its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger A290 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony H50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography highlights
Sony H50 Portrait photography highlights
65
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
27
has manual focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
Sony H50 as a Street photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (547 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography advice
Sony H50 Sports photography advice
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (290 per charge)
32
excellent zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography info
Sony H50 Travel photography info
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
44
has built in flash
long reach (465mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (547g)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography info
Sony H50 Landscape photography info
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
terrible battery (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
34
has manual focus
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
low megapixels (9MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H50 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
19
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (547g)
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Sony A290 vs Sony H50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony H50
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-06-09 2009-01-15
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
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 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 31-465mm (15.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.7-4.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480, 30 fps, 320 x 240, 8 fps
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lbs) 547 grams (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 116 x 81 x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 615 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $80