Sony A290 vs Sony A55
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 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
- Revealed June 2010
- Replaced the Sony A230
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Launched August 2010
- Updated by Sony A57
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 Overview
Its time to look much closer at the Sony A290 vs Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and both are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (APS-C).
Photography GlossaryThe A290 was introduced 2 months before the A55 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).
Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the A290 matches up versus the A55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 & Sony SLT-A55. The whole galleries are provided at Sony A290 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A55
A290 | A55 |
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Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony A290
A55 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating display | |
Display dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") | |
Display resolution | 921k | 230k | Crisper display (+691k dot) | |
Selfie screen | Take selfies |
Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony A55
A290 | A55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | June 2010 | August 2010 | Similar age | |
Manual focus | Dial accurate focus | |||
Touch friendly display | Neither has Touch friendly display |
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison
When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A290 has outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Compare the Sony A290 vs Sony A55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the A290 compared to the A55.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and A55 is 66 and 67 respectively.
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking specs. The graphic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A290 and A55.
As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony A55 to resolve greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively.
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Sony A290 vs Sony A55 Specifications
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | Sony SLT-A55 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Sony | Sony |
Model type | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | Sony SLT-A55 |
Category | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2010-06-09 | 2010-08-24 |
Body design | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Bionz | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 23.5 x 15.7mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 369.0mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14MP | 16MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4592 x 3056 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
Max enhanced ISO | - | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 15 |
Cross type focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Sony/Minolta Alpha | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Number of lenses | 143 | 143 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display diagonal | 2.7" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,150 thousand dot |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | - | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone 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 | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 549 gr (1.21 pounds) | 500 gr (1.10 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") | 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 66 | 73 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.6 | 23.0 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.5 | 12.4 |
DXO Low light rating | 615 | 816 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 290 pictures | 380 pictures |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NP-FH50 | NP-FW50 |
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 | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Cost at release | $600 | $800 |