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Sony A390 vs Sony A55

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Later Model is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Sony A390 versus Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and both of them are offered by Sony. The resolution of the A390 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The A390 was launched at a similar time to the A55 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the A390 scores versus the A55 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony A55

 A390 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony A390

 A55 A390 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony A55

 A390 A55 
LaunchedJuly 2010August 2010Similar age
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A390 has outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A390 versus Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the A390 and the A55.

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A390 and A55 is 66 and 67 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions only by looking at specs. The image here should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A390 and A55.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony A55 to give greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively.

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A390 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A55 Portrait photography highlights
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
77
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 Sports photography advice
Sony A55 Sports photography advice
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography highlights
Sony A55 Travel photography highlights
53
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
62
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
67
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (380 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging details
Sony A55 Vlogging details
9
no video
78
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
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Sony A390 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony A55
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony SLT-A55
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-07-28 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549g (1.21 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 607 816
Other
Battery life 230 photos 380 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-FW50
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 Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $800