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Sony A390 vs Sony TX9

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 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
  • Old Model is Sony A380
Sony TX9
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 149g - 98 x 60 x 18mm
  • Announced July 2010
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Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Sony A390 and Sony TX9, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Sony. The resolution of the A390 (14MP) and the TX9 (12MP) is fairly similar but the A390 (APS-C) and TX9 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The A390 was released very close to the TX9 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise view of how the A390 matches up versus the TX9 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony TX9

 A390 TX9 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony TX9 over the Sony A390

 TX9 A390 
Display dimensions3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony TX9

 A390 TX9 
AnnouncedJuly 2010July 2010Similar age
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A390 enjoys exterior 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) whilst the Sony TX9 has dimensions of 98mm x 60mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7") having a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A390 and Sony TX9 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the A390 against the TX9.

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A390 and TX9 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The image underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the A390 and TX9.

Plainly, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A390 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A390 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively.

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A390 Portrait photography information
Sony TX9 Portrait photography information
72
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
Sony TX9 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competition (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A390
Sports photography with Sony TX9
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography info
Sony TX9 Travel photography info
53
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
offers focus by touch
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (149g)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography info
Sony TX9 Landscape photography info
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
41
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
big screen (3.5 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging highlights
Sony TX9 Vlogging highlights
9
no video recording
32
quite wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competition (149g)
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Sony A390 vs Sony TX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony TX9
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2010-07-28 2010-07-08
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lbs) 149 grams (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 98 x 60 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $799