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Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Old Model is Sony A230
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and HX20V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was unveiled 3 years before the HX20V and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A290 scores against the HX20V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony HX20V

 A290 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony A290

 HX20V A290 
IntroducedJuly 2012June 2010Fresher by 25 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony HX20V

 A290 HX20V 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A290 features exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the A290 vs the HX20V.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and HX20V is 66 and 90 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A290 and HX20V.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A290 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony HX20V will offer you more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The older A290 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX20V Portrait photography factors
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
45
focusing manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography advice
Sony HX20V Street photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery life (290 shots)
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (290 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (254g)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
does not have liveview
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
50
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony HX20V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-06-09 2012-07-20
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
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
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $600 $397