Sony A290 vs Sony S980
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
94 Imaging
34 Features
17 Overall
27
Sony A290 vs Sony S980 Key Specs
(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
- Replaced the Sony A230
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 3200
- 1280 x 720 video
- 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
- 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
- Revealed February 2009
Photography Glossary Sony A290 vs Sony S980 Overview
Following is a extended comparison of the Sony A290 and Sony S980, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the A290 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe A290 was unveiled 16 months after the S980 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.
Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the A290 grades against the S980 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The full galleries are available at Sony A290 Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony S980
| A290 | S980 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | June 2010 |  | February 2009 | More modern by 16 months |
Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A290
| S980 | A290 |
|---|
Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony S980
| A290 | S980 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually |  | Very precise focus | ||
| Screen type | Fixed |  | Fixed | Fixed screen |
| Screen sizing | 2.7" |  | 2.7" | Equivalent screen measurements |
| Screen resolution | 230k |  | 230k | Equal screen resolution |
| Selfie screen |  | Absent selfie screen | ||
| Touch friendly screen |  | Neither provides Touch friendly screen |
Sony A290 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A290 provides outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).
Compare the Sony A290 and Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the A290 and the S980.
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and S980 is 66 and 94 respectively.
Sony A290 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by checking a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and S980.
As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A290 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A290 will resolve extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern A290 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.
Sony A290 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder
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Sony A290 vs Sony S980 Specifications
| Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Sony | Sony |
| Model type | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 |
| Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Small Sensor Compact |
| Launched | 2010-06-09 | 2009-02-17 |
| Body design | Compact SLR | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | Bionz | - |
| Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
| Sensor size | APS-C | 1/2.3" |
| Sensor measurements | 23.5 x 15.7mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
| Sensor surface area | 369.0mm² | 28.1mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Max resolution | 4592 x 3056 | 4000 x 3000 |
| Max native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 80 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| AF single | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| Center weighted AF | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Sony/Minolta Alpha | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | - | 33-132mm (4.0x) |
| Highest aperture | - | f/3.3-5.2 |
| Macro focusing distance | - | 10cm |
| Amount of lenses | 143 | - |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5 | 5.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Display sizing | 2.7 inch | 2.7 inch |
| Display resolution | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch capability | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) | None |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95% | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | - |
| Features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 30s | 2s |
| Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/1600s |
| Continuous shutter speed | 3.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
| Custom WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) | 3.50 m |
| Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Fastest flash sync | 1/160s | - |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
| Video data format | - | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 549 grams (1.21 lbs) | 167 grams (0.37 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") | 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | 66 | not tested |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 22.6 | not tested |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.5 | not tested |
| DXO Low light rating | 615 | not tested |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 290 pictures | - |
| Battery form | Battery Pack | - |
| Battery ID | NP-FH50 | - |
| 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 | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Cost at release | $600 | $300 |