Sony A290 vs Sony HX400V

Let's look closer at the Sony A290 vs Sony HX400V, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and HX400V (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The A290 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the HX400V which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the A290 scores vs the HX400V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V. The entire galleries are provided at Sony A290 Gallery and Sony HX400V Gallery.

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 provides exterior 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 HX400V has measurements of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Sony A290 vs Sony HX400V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the A290 against the HX400V.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A290 and HX400V is 66 and 62 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking specifications. The picture underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and HX400V.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A290 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX400V will give more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A290 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.