Sony A390 vs Sony a1

Here is a thorough assessment of the Sony A390 versus Sony a1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Pro Mirrorless and both are offered by Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The A390 was manufactured 11 years before the a1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A390 grades against the a1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 & Sony Alpha a1. The entire galleries are provided at Sony A390 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A390 offers exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check the Sony A390 versus Sony a1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the A390 vs the a1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A390 and a1 is 66 and 61 respectively.

Oftentimes, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at specifications. The visual here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A390 and a1.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A390 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony a1 will give you greater detail due to its extra 36MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older A390 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.