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Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
45
Features
57
Overall
49

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V 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
  • Superseded the Sony A230
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed April 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX30V
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Sony A290 and Sony HX50V, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and HX50V (20MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and HX50V (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was released 3 years before the HX50V and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX50V being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the A290 grades against the HX50V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony HX50V

 A290 HX50V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Sony A290

 HX50V A290 
RevealedApril 2013June 2010Fresher by 35 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony HX50V

 A290 HX50V 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Sony A290 enjoys external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony HX50V has sizing of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Look at the Sony A290 and Sony HX50V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the A290 against the HX50V.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and HX50V is 66 and 89 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specs. The visual here should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and HX50V.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A290 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX50V will show greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older A290 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX50V Portrait photography advice
65
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
51
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
provides face detect focusing
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography information
Sony HX50V Street photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (272 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low battery power (290 per charge)
58
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery pack (400 CIPA)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography information
Sony HX50V Travel photography information
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
71
good battery pack (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A290
Landscape photography with Sony HX50V
58
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
low battery power (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
54
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good battery pack (400 per charge)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX50V as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
34
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony HX50V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-06-09 2013-04-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 5184 x 2920
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 549g (1.21 lbs) 272g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
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 photographs 400 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $600 $439