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Sony A290 vs Sony H55

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
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Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Sony A290 versus Sony H55, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the H55 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the A290 (APS-C) and H55 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The A290 was brought out very close to the H55 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A290 scores vs the H55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony H55

 A290 H55 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Sony A290

 H55 A290 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony H55

 A290 H55 
ReleasedJune 2010June 2010Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 comes with physical 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 H55 has proportions of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Sony A290 versus Sony H55 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A290 against the H55.

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and H55 is 66 and 92 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The image below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and H55.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The A290 comes with the larger sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field simpler.

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography features
Sony H55 Portrait photography features
65
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony H55
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography details
Sony H55 Sports photography details
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery (290 per charge)
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography information
Sony H55 Travel photography information
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
67
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony H55 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
bad battery (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging information
Sony H55 Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
28
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Sony A290 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony H55
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-09 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz 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 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic 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 gr (1.21 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $235