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Sony A390 vs Sony G3

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Sony A390 vs Sony G3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and G3 (10MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and G3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The A390 was manufactured 19 months later than the G3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the A390 matches up versus the G3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony G3

 A390 G3 
LaunchedJuly 2010January 2009More recent by 19 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Sony A390

 G3 A390 
Display sizing3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony G3

 A390 G3 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A390 enjoys physical dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony G3 has measurements of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A390 vs Sony G3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A390 and the G3.

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A390 and G3 is 66 and 94 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A390 and G3.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A390 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony A390 will offer greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The younger A390 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony G3
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
26
focusing manually
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A390
Street photography with Sony G3
76
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A390
Sports photography with Sony G3
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000s)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography features
Sony G3 Travel photography features
53
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly display
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony G3 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
36
focusing manually
lovely big screen (3.5")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging highlights
Sony G3 Vlogging highlights
9
lack of video recording
27
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
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Sony A390 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony G3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-07-28 2009-01-08
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3.5"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 pounds) 185 grams (0.41 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 607 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $200