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Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Renewed by Sony RX1R II
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Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and RX1R (Full frame) possess different sensor sizing.

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The A290 was launched 4 years earlier than the RX1R which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the A290 scores vs the RX1R in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony RX1R

 A290 RX1R 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A290

 RX1R A290 
AnnouncedJune 2013June 2010More modern by 37 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony RX1R

 A290 RX1R 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A290 enjoys outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1R has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the A290 compared to the RX1R.

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and RX1R is 66 and 79 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The pic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and RX1R.

All in all, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A290 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony RX1R will produce more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1R Portrait photography highlights
65
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
82
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography features
Sony RX1R Street photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
very good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography advice
Sony RX1R Sports photography advice
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
53
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (270 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography factors
Sony RX1R Travel photography factors
53
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (290 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
62
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
heavier than competition (482 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no liveview
bad battery life (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
66
has manual focus
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (270 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX1R Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
34
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Sony A290 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony RX1R
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-09 2013-06-26
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 gr (1.21 pounds) 482 gr (1.06 pounds)
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 score 66 91
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 13.6
DXO Low light score 615 2537
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 270 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
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 1 1
Pricing at release $600 $2,798