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Sony A290 vs Sony T90

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 front
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
26
Overall
30

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A230
Sony T90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 148g - 94 x 57 x 15mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Sony A290 vs Sony T90 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Sony A290 and Sony T90, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the T90 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the A290 (APS-C) and T90 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The A290 was manufactured 16 months later than the T90 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony T90 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the A290 matches up versus the T90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony T90

 A290 T90 
RevealedJune 2010February 2009Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony T90 over the Sony A290

 T90 A290 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony T90

 A290 T90 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 has got outer measurements 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 T90 has proportions of 94mm x 57mm x 15mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.6") having a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Sony A290 and Sony T90 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the A290 vs the T90.

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and T90 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The visual below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A290 and T90.

Plainly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A290 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A290 will give extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The younger A290 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony T90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography features
Sony T90 Portrait photography features
65
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony T90
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition in class (148g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A290
Sports photography with Sony T90
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography features
Sony T90 Travel photography features
53
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (290 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (148 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A290
Landscape photography with Sony T90
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
36
manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging info
Sony T90 Vlogging info
9
no video
27
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition in class (148g)
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Sony A290 vs Sony T90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony T90
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2010-06-09 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 2.90 m (Auto ISO)
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
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lbs) 148 gr (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 94 x 57 x 15mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.6")
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 shots -
Style of battery 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
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $600 $259