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Sony A390 vs Sony RX100

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Announced July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 II
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Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Sony A390 vs Sony RX100, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and RX100 (1") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The A390 was brought out 3 years prior to the RX100 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A390 grades versus the RX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony RX100

 A390 RX100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony A390

 RX100 A390 
RevealedAugust 2012July 2010Newer by 25 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony RX100

 A390 RX100 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A390 features outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the A390 and the RX100.

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A390 and RX100 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by researching technical specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A390 and RX100.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A390 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX100 will render more detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged A390 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
64
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 Street photography highlights
Sony RX100 Street photography highlights
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 Sports photography advice
Sony RX100 Sports photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
bad battery (230 CIPA)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A390
Travel photography with Sony RX100
53
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
bad battery (230 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
79
lighter than competition in class (240g)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A390
Landscape photography with Sony RX100
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery (230 shots)
no Timelapse function
74
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
38
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
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Sony A390 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony RX100
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-07-28 2012-08-28
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549g (1.21 pounds) 240g (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 66
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 607 390
Other
Battery life 230 images 330 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $448