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Sony A390 vs Sony W290

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 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
  • Replaced the Sony A380
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Introduced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Sony A390 vs Sony W290, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A390 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is relatively close but the A390 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The A390 was released 18 months after the W290 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the A390 scores against the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony W290

 A390 W290 
IntroducedJuly 2010February 2009Newer by 18 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sony A390

 W290 A390 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony W290

 A390 W290 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Sony A390 provides outer dimensions 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 W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Sony A390 vs Sony W290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the A390 vs the W290.

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A390 and W290 is 66 and 94 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by researching technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A390 and W290.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A390 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A390 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher A390 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony W290
72
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 Street photography features
Sony W290 Street photography features
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 Sports photography highlights
Sony W290 Sports photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography info
Sony W290 Travel photography info
53
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
terrible battery (230 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
41
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Sony A390 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony W290
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-07-28 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type 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 rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $500 $230