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Sony A290 vs Sony TX10

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 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
  • Older Model is Sony A230
Sony TX10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Announced August 2011
Photography Glossary

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony A290 and Sony TX10, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the TX10 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the A290 (APS-C) and TX10 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was unveiled 14 months earlier than the TX10 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX10 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the A290 scores vs the TX10 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony TX10

 A290 TX10 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony TX10 over the Sony A290

 TX10 A290 
AnnouncedAugust 2011June 2010More modern by 14 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony TX10

 A290 TX10 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider 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") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony TX10 has proportions of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A290 and Sony TX10 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the A290 and the TX10.

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and TX10 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The image here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and TX10.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A290 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony TX10 will give extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A290 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography details
Sony TX10 Portrait photography details
65
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
30
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
Sony TX10 as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
weather proof
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography features
Sony TX10 Sports photography features
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony TX10 as a Travel photography camera
53
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
weather proof
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX10 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
46
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging information
Sony TX10 Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Sony A290 vs Sony TX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony TX10
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2010-06-09 2011-08-16
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 grams (1.21 lb) 133 grams (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
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
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $600 $309