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Sony A390 vs Sony TX20

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Key Specs

Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A380
Sony TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Sony A390 versus Sony TX20, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and they are both created by Sony. The image resolution of the A390 (14MP) and the TX20 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the A390 (APS-C) and TX20 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The A390 was unveiled 19 months before the TX20 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the A390 matches up vs the TX20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony TX20

 A390 TX20 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Sony A390

 TX20 A390 
LaunchedFebruary 2012July 2010More recent by 19 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony TX20

 A390 TX20 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and size. The Sony A390 has physical 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 TX20 has specifications of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A390 versus Sony TX20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the A390 against the TX20.

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A390 and TX20 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The photograph below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A390 and TX20.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A390 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony TX20 will give extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older A390 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony TX20
72
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
40
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 Street photography highlights
Sony TX20 Street photography highlights
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
environment proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A390
Sports photography with Sony TX20
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
50
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery power (250 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography details
Sony TX20 Travel photography details
53
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
72
great battery power (250 per charge)
environment proofing
provides focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography info
Sony TX20 Landscape photography info
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
52
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery power (250 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging info
Sony TX20 Vlogging info
9
no video
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Sony A390 vs Sony TX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony TX20
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2010-07-28 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lb) 133 grams (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots 250 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $500 $330