Clicky

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Later Model is Sony RX1R II
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Sony A390 and Sony RX1R, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and RX1R (Full frame) possess different sensor sizes.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The A390 was announced 3 years before the RX1R and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A390 scores against the RX1R in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony RX1R

 A390 RX1R 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A390

 RX1R A390 
AnnouncedJune 2013July 2010More recent by 35 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony RX1R

 A390 RX1R 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Sony A390 has external 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 RX1R has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check out the Sony A390 and Sony RX1R in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the A390 versus the RX1R.

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A390 and RX1R is 66 and 79 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The visual here may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A390 and RX1R.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A390 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony RX1R will give you more detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older A390 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony RX1R
72
has manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
82
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Street photography camera
76
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (482 grams)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Sony A390 Sports photography details
Sony RX1R Sports photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
terrible battery pack (230 per charge)
53
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (270 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography factors
Sony RX1R Travel photography factors
53
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
megapixel count good (24MP)
flash built-in
good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (270 per charge)
heavier than competition (482 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX1R Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
66
manual focus
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (270 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1R as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
good max aperture (f2.0)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (482 grams)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sony A390 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony RX1R
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-07-28 2013-06-26
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 gr (1.21 lb) 482 gr (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 91
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 13.6
DXO Low light rating 607 2537
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 270 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $500 $2,798