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Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Sony A290 versus Sony HX30V, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The A290 was manufactured 20 months earlier than the HX30V which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the A290 grades against the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony HX30V

 A290 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A290

 HX30V A290 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012June 2010Fresher by 20 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony HX30V

 A290 HX30V 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 provides external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Sony A290 versus Sony HX30V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the A290 versus the HX30V.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and HX30V is 66 and 90 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and HX30V.

As you can tell, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A290 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony HX30V will give more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older A290 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
65
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
no liveview
45
has manual focus
decent MP (18MP)
provides face detection focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
53
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
50
has manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging details
Sony HX30V Vlogging details
9
no video
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-06-09 2012-02-28
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
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
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 distance - 1cm
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 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 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 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 shooting
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 Single Single
Launch pricing $600 $420