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Sony A390 vs Sony HX1

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 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
  • Released July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Sony A390 and Sony HX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and HX1 (1/2.4") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The A390 was introduced 16 months later than the HX1 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A390 scores versus the HX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony HX1

 A390 HX1 
LaunchedJuly 2010April 2009More recent by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony A390

 HX1 A390 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony HX1

 A390 HX1 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A390 offers 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) while the Sony HX1 has sizing of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A390 and Sony HX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the A390 and the HX1.

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A390 and HX1 is 66 and 67 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A390 and HX1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A390 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A390 will give you extra detail using its extra 5MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher A390 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A390 Portrait photography details
Sony HX1 Portrait photography details
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
27
you can focus manually
no external flash support
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 Street photography details
Sony HX1 Street photography details
76
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
heavier than average in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 Sports photography information
Sony HX1 Sports photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low battery power (230 per charge)
36
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography advice
Sony HX1 Travel photography advice
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery power (230 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
48
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (544g)
MP count low (9 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery power (230 shots)
no Timelapse function
39
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
22
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic socket
heavier than average in class (544g)
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Sony A390 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony HX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-28 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1440x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lbs) 544 grams (1.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 607 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $500 $47,999