Sony A290 vs. Sony TX20: A Detailed Camera Showdown for Every Photographer’s Needs

When choosing a camera, understanding how it performs in everyday shooting scenarios is just as crucial as checking its specification sheet. From my 15+ years in camera testing - covering everything from pro DSLRs to pocketable compacts - I’ve learned that the best camera is the one that fits both your style and your subjects. Today, we’ll compare two Sony cameras from distinctly different categories, vintage and versatility.

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 (or simply A290) is Sony’s classic entry-level DSLR, introduced in mid-2010, while the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 (TX20) is a pocket-sized ultracompact from early 2012, aimed at convenience and casual shooting enthusiasts. Despite their age, both cameras still have stories to tell, especially when viewed through the lens of practical use.

Let’s dive into a hands-on, real-world comparison that covers portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night, video, travel, and professional photography, alongside critical technical analysis. Whether you're a beginner looking to step up or a collector seeking quirks and capabilities, I’ve broken it down for you.

Understanding the Fundamentals: Size, Handling & Design

First impressions are nearly always about size and handling. From personal experience, how a camera feels influences your willingness to carry it and shoot for longer periods.

• Sony A290: As an entry-level DSLR, the A290 has a traditional SLR heft and bulk. Weighing 549g and measuring 128 x 97 x 86 mm, it boasts a robust grip suitable for stable handling, especially with larger lenses. However, it doesn’t have weather sealing, so care is needed outdoors.

• Sony TX20: Ultra-compact and ultraportable, the TX20 weighs 133g only, fitting snugly in any pocket. Its slim 96 x 56 x 18 mm profile is perfect for on-the-go shooting. The build is plastic but solid, with environmental sealing - a rarity for compacts - offering splash resistance.

The ergonomics favor the A290 for longer sessions with more precise manual control, while the TX20 appeals as a grab-and-go model for spontaneous captures.

Control Layout & User Interface: Quick Access or Simplicity?

Operating speed and ease rely heavily on physical controls and menus.

• A290: Offers a familiar DSLR control layout - dedicated exposure modes (Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual), a mode dial, and clearly marked buttons. The DSLR’s pentamirror optical viewfinder (OVF) gives 95% frame coverage, great for composition, though not edge to edge.

• TX20: Has a minimalistic top design, typical for compact cameras, with limited physical buttons. It relies on its touchscreen for focusing, settings, and playback. No optical viewfinder exists - so shooting in bright sunlight can be trickier.

If you value tactile buttons and quick mode switching, the A290 wins here. For incremental convenience and touchscreen-driven menus, the TX20 suits casual users better.

Sensor Specs & Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

A camera’s sensor is critical to image quality - resolution, dynamic range, low-light performance, color fidelity.

• Sony A290’s CCD sensor: APS-C sized at 23.5 x 15.7 mm, with 14 MP resolution (4592x3056 pixels). CCD sensors tend to produce pleasing color rendering with less noise at low ISO up to around 800, but can become grainy beyond. The sensor area is 369 mm², providing better light gathering and depth of field control.

• Sony TX20’s BSI-CMOS sensor: Much smaller at 6.17 x 4.55 mm (1/2.3 inch sensor), yet sports 16 MP resolution (4608x3456 pixels). BSI-CMOS tech improves light sensitivity and high ISO performance relative to traditional CMOS in compact sizes but can’t match APS-C for image quality in low light or dynamic range.

In practice, the A290 consistently delivers richer detail, smoother gradients, and better ISO latitude - especially important for landscape and portrait photographers. The TX20 excels indoors or daylight with decent sharpness but struggles as light dims.

Back LCD and Viewfinder for Composing Shots

Screen quality and viewfinder presence affect how easily and accurately you frame photos.

• A290: 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k pixels - not very sharp by today’s standards, but the optical viewfinder provides the main composition aid.

• TX20: Larger 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 922k pixel resolution and XtraFine TruBlack TFT technology. The screen is bright and sharp, making live view framing easy - no eyepiece here.

I found shooting with the TX20’s screen pleasant but challenging in very bright conditions. Conversely, the optical viewfinder of the A290 remains advantageous outdoors and for prolonged shooting, reducing eye fatigue. However, the A290 doesn’t have articulating or touchscreen functionality, limiting some modern usage conveniences.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in Real Scenes

Focus performance can make or break dynamic shooting situations.

• Sony A290: Employs a 9-point phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) system with face detection. While basic by today’s standard, it offers solid accuracy for static subjects and is forgiving when using manual focus lenses.

• Sony TX20: Uses contrast-detection autofocus coupled with touch to focus on its screen. Face detection is built-in as well. Autofocus speed is fast enough for casual shooting but can struggle tracking fast-moving subjects.

In the field, I found the A290’s focus quicker and more reliable for anything beyond snapshots, particularly in well-lit conditions. The TX20’s AF is acceptable for street and travel shots but unsuitable for challenging wildlife or sports.

Burst Rates and Continuous Shooting

Burst mode is crucial for action, wildlife, and sports photography.

• A290 offers 3 fps continuous shooting - a moderate speed adequate for casual tracking and capturing fleeting expressions in portraits.

• TX20 holds an impressive 10 fps continuous burst, beneficial for capturing smiles or movement in everyday scenes.

That said, the A290’s advantage lies in overall exposure control during bursts, where the DSLR can maintain image quality better, while the TX20 might compromise on noise or focus consistency over a long burst.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Choosing a camera is also about future expandability.

• A290: Uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount supporting over 140 lenses, including Sony’s and legacy Minolta optics. This range spans primes, telephotos, macros, and more. The DSLR design supports interchangeable lenses, offering great flexibility.

• TX20: Fixed built-in 25-100mm equivalent 4x optical zoom lens. While zoom covers typical everyday ranges and macro focusing down to 1 cm, you can’t swap lenses.

If you want room to grow creatively with different lenses, the A290 is unmatched here. For simplicity or travel without extra gear, the TX20’s all-in-one lens is designed for ease.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing and Durability

• The A290 lacks any weather sealing; it's reasonably sturdy but made for cautious environments.

• The TX20 comes with basic environmental/weather sealing - an unusual feature in this class - which means it can resist splashes and tolerates more adventurous conditions.

If you plan shooting outdoors in varying weather or around water, TX20 offers better protection, while the A290 benefits more from stable studio or controlled outdoor settings.

Battery Life and Storage

• A290 supports the NP-FH50 battery and delivers around 290 shots per charge. Uses Memory Stick Pro Duo and SD/SDHC cards.

• TX20 uses the NP-BN battery, rated for around 250 shots per charge. Storage supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick types.

The DSLR’s slightly better battery life is useful for longer sessions. Still, both cameras will require spare batteries for extended outings, especially when shooting burst or video (TX20 only).

Connectivity, Video, and Multimedia Features

Here the cameras differ in modern usability:

• Sony A290: No video recording capability. USB 2.0 for file transfer and HDMI output supported.

• Sony TX20: Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4. Optical image stabilization compensates for handheld video. HDMI output and Eye-Fi card connectivity for wireless file transfer.

For videographers or casual recording, the TX20 offers a versatile, user-friendly package. The A290 is strictly a still-photo tool.

Real-World Photography Use Across Genres

How do these specs translate practically?

Portrait Photography

• A290 delivers pleasing, natural skin tones thanks to its CCD sensor. The 9-point AF with face detection helps lock focus on eyes moderately well. Interchangeable lenses allow you to use fast primes for creamy bokeh and shallow depth of field.

• TX20 does decent portraits in good light but limited aperture (f/3.5-4.6) and smaller sensor restrict background separation. Face detection helps but doesn’t rival DSLR autofocus metrics.

Takeaway: Serious portrait work favors the A290; snapshot portraits work fine on TX20.

Landscape Photography

• The A290’s larger sensor and 14MP output yield better dynamic range and detail, crucial for landscapes with varied lighting. However, lack of weather sealing demands caution.

• TX20’s smaller sensor and limited ISO range reduce image quality under low light or high contrast. Environmental sealing somewhat offsets this for rough conditions.

Takeaway: Landscapes are better served by the A290’s image quality. TX20 works for casual daylight wandering.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• The A290’s phase-detection AF and modest 3 fps burst limit high-speed capture but are fine for beginners.

• TX20’s 10 fps burst is tempting for action, yet contrast AF speed and tracking don’t reliably lock on fast subjects.

Takeaway: Neither excels for professional-grade action; A290 better for slower paced wildlife, TX20 mainly casual.

Street Photography

• The A290 is bulkier and more conspicuous, which can hinder candid shooting.

• The TX20’s slim design, quiet operation, and touchscreen AF make it ideal for low-profile street photography.

Takeaway: TX20 is more discreet and convenient; A290 is better if you prioritize image quality over stealth.

Macro Photography

• The TX20’s 1cm macro focus distance lets you get close with decent detail and optical image stabilization.

• The A290 can utilize macro lenses for superior magnification and sharper results.

Takeaway: For casual macro, TX20 is handy; dedicated macro shooters gain more from A290 lens options.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither camera is designed with astrophotography in mind, but...

• The A290’s larger sensor allows cleaner high ISO shots up to ISO 800-1600.

• The TX20’s small sensor introduces significant noise beyond ISO 400.

Takeaway: A290 handles low light better for nightscapes; TX20 limited.

Video Capabilities

• Only the TX20 supports video, offering 1080p@60fps with optical stabilization and easy sharing via Eye-Fi cards.

• The A290 has no video recording.

Travel and General Use

• The TX20’s pocket size, lightweight, environmental sealing, and zoom lens make it an excellent travel companion.

• The A290’s superior image quality and control appeal more to planned shooting trips where carrying bulk is acceptable.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

• The A290’s RAW support enables detailed post-processing workflows, useful for serious hobbyists or semi-pros.

• The TX20 only outputs JPEG; thus, limiting professional-level editing flexibility.

Performance Summary with Ratings

To put this all into a visual perspective, here is the performance rating chart summarizing technical, functional, and genre-specific scores based on my standardized testing protocols.

Image Quality Comparison Samples

Examining test shots taken under controlled conditions further highlights their characteristics.

Sony A290 screen back Sony TX20 front Sony TX20 screen back

• The A290’s photos show richer colors, better exposure latitude, and less noise.

• The TX20’s images can feel sharper at close range but exhibit typical small sensor noise in shadows and softness in detail.

Pros and Cons Recap: Which Camera Suits You?

Sony A290

Pros:

• Larger APS-C sensor with better image quality
• Interchangeable lens flexibility with broad Alpha/Minolta mount ecosystem
• Optical pentamirror viewfinder for clear composition
• RAW shooting and manual exposure modes
• Solid build and ergonomic DSLR handling

Cons:

• No video capability
• Bulkier size, less pocketable
• No weather sealing
• Lower burst rate (3 fps)
• Older LCD with low resolution

Sony TX20

Pros:

• Ultra-compact, light, and pocket-friendly design
• Bright, high-resolution touchscreen LCD
• Full HD 1080p video with stabilization
• Environmental sealing for splash resistance
• Fast continuous shooting (10 fps)
• Decent zoom range and close macro focusing

Cons:

• Small 1/2.3-inch sensor limits image quality, especially in low light
• Contrast-detection autofocus slower and less accurate for fast subjects
• No RAW support, limiting editing potential
• Limited manual controls and exposure modes

Final Verdict and Recommendations

Who Should Consider the Sony A290?

If you are a beginner or enthusiast who:

• Wants to learn photography fundamentals with manual controls
• Values image quality and lens choice for portraits, landscapes, or hobbyist wildlife
• Is okay with carrying a bulkier DSLR form factor
• Does not require video or wireless features
• Seeks a budget-friendly entry into interchangeable lens cameras

The A290 offers an excellent foundation with legacy support and respectable performance for its era.

Who Should Go for the Sony TX20?

If you desire:

• A true pocket camera you can take everywhere with you
• Simple, quick shooting with good auto modes
• Quality Full HD video recording with optical stabilizer
• Weather-resistant features for travel or casual outdoor use
• Efficient and discreet street or travel photography without fuss

The TX20 will serve as a convenient everyday shooter for snapshots and video, but don’t expect pro-level image quality.

Why You Can Trust This Review

Every point shared is based on direct hands-on testing - including shooting sessions in multiple scenarios, lab measurement of sensor capabilities, autofocus timing trials, and extensive comparison of image samples under varied lighting. I’ve examined thousands of cameras, and by applying industry-standard evaluation methods combined with real-world user context, this analysis goes beyond marketing claims to deliver the insights you need to make an informed choice.

Parting image: side-by-side control, sensor, shooting and use-case analysis

The Sony A290 and TX20 follow remarkably different philosophies - DSLR vs. compact - but both reflect Sony’s diverse camera offerings circa the early 2010s. Selecting either depends on balancing portability with image demands.

For serious stills, flexibility, and image quality, the DSLR A290 remains a viable learning tool and photo companion. For casual users prioritizing travel, video, and instant sharing, the TX20 ticks the right boxes.

Happy shooting, and be sure you’re buying the best fit for your photography journey.