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Sony A290 vs Sony HX300

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Superseded the Sony A230
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • Later Model is Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Sony A290 versus Sony HX300, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was introduced 3 years before the HX300 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the A290 scores vs the HX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony HX300

 A290 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony A290

 HX300 A290 
IntroducedFebruary 2013June 2010More recent by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony HX300

 A290 HX300 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 features outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has proportions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony A290 versus Sony HX300 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the A290 versus the HX300.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and HX300 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specs. The visual underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and HX300.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A290 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony HX300 will provide you with extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older A290 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
65
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
no liveview
42
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony HX300
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX300 Sports photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
54
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (623 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
no liveview
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
no Timelapse function
48
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging info
Sony HX300 Vlogging info
9
no video
25
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony HX300
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-06-09 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
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 - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lbs) 623 grams (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC -
Storage slots One One
Retail price $600 $339