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Sony A290 vs Sony A99

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Earlier Model is Sony A230
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Sony A290 vs Sony A99 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Sony A290 and Sony A99, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are built by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the A290 (14MP) and A99 (24MP) and the A290 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A290 was revealed 3 years prior to the A99 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the A290 scores versus the A99 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony A99

 A290 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony A290

 A99 A290 
RevealedDecember 2012June 2010Newer by 30 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony A99

 A290 A99 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A290 enjoys outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Sony A290 and Sony A99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the A290 versus the A99.

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A290 and A99 is 66 and 57 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The picture underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A290 and A99.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A290 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A99 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged A290 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A290
Portrait photography with Sony A99
65
manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
81
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A290 Street photography details
Sony A99 Street photography details
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography info
Sony A99 Sports photography info
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 Travel photography features
Sony A99 Travel photography features
53
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
60
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A99 Landscape photography highlights
58
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
76
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
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Sony A290 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony A99
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony SLT-A99
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-06-09 2012-12-12
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (1.21 lb) 812 grams (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 89
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 14.0
DXO Low light rating 615 1555
Other
Battery life 290 photos 500 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-FM500H
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 PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Launch pricing $600 $1,998