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Sony A390 vs Sony HX300

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A380
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • Successor is Sony HX400V
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Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Sony A390 vs Sony HX300, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The A390 was introduced 3 years prior to the HX300 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the A390 grades versus the HX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony HX300

 A390 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony A390

 HX300 A390 
IntroducedFebruary 2013July 2010Newer by 31 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony HX300

 A390 HX300 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and volume. The Sony A390 comes with outside measurements 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 HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

See the Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the A390 and the HX300.

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A390 and HX300 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A390 and HX300.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A390 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony HX300 will offer greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A390 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony HX300
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
42
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
76
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Sports photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (230 per charge)
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography information
Sony HX300 Travel photography information
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery (230 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
54
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (623 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography features
Sony HX300 Landscape photography features
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
48
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging features
Sony HX300 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
25
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (623 grams)
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Sony A390 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony HX300
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-28 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo -
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $500 $339