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Sony A290 vs Sony RX1

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A230
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Introduced February 2013
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Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Sony A290 and Sony RX1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and RX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

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The A290 was revealed 3 years earlier than the RX1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the A290 scores versus the RX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony RX1

 A290 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony A290

 RX1 A290 
IntroducedFebruary 2013June 2010More modern by 32 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony RX1

 A290 RX1 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 has got physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A290 and Sony RX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the A290 compared to the RX1.

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and RX1 is 66 and 79 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The image below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and RX1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A290 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony RX1 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1 Portrait photography information
65
focusing manually
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
82
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography features
Sony RX1 Street photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
great high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
heavier than average in class (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography features
Sony RX1 Sports photography features
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
53
MP count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
slow fps (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (270 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
MP count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (270 CIPA)
heavier than average in class (482 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography info
Sony RX1 Landscape photography info
58
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
not so great battery (290 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
65
focusing manually
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (270 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging features
Sony RX1 Vlogging features
9
no video
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than average in class (482 grams)
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Sony A290 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony RX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-09 2013-02-19
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 pounds) 482 gr (1.06 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 93
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 14.3
DXO Low light rating 615 2534
Other
Battery life 290 images 270 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $600 $2,798