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Sony A290 vs Sony A58

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
63
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Key Specs

Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Earlier Model is Sony A230
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony A57
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Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony A290 and Sony A58, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and A58 (20MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The A290 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the A58 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the A290 scores vs the A58 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A58

 A290 A58 

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony A290

 A58 A290 
IntroducedNovember 2013June 2010More modern by 42 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony A58

 A290 A58 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A290 comes with exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony A58 has proportions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") and a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A290 and Sony A58 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A290 compared to the A58.

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and A58 is 66 and 68 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The image here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A290 and A58.

Clearly, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony A58 to provide you with more detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A290 Portrait photography information
Sony A58 Portrait photography information
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography features
Sony A58 Street photography features
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography information
Sony A58 Sports photography information
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
81
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (690 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography highlights
Sony A58 Travel photography highlights
53
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (290 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
63
good battery pack (690 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
Sony A58 Landscape photography factors
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
does not have liveview
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (690 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 Vlogging factors
Sony A58 Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Sony A290 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony A58
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony SLT-A58
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-06-09 2013-11-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.6
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.65x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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 -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lb) 492 gr (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 74
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 12.5
DXO Low light rating 615 753
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 690 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $600 $645