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Sony A390 vs Sony A99

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • New Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony A390 vs Sony A99 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A390 versus Sony A99, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are built by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and A99 (24MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) feature different sensor size.

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The A390 was brought out 3 years before the A99 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the A390 matches up vs the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony A99

 A390 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony A390

 A99 A390 
ReleasedDecember 2012July 2010Fresher by 28 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony A99

 A390 A99 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. 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) and the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A390 versus Sony A99 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the A390 against the A99.

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A390 and A99 is 66 and 57 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specs. The photograph below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A390 and A99.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A390 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A99 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older A390 will be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony A99
72
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
81
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
76
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
75
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low battery power (230 shots)
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
low battery power (230 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
60
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography info
Sony A99 Landscape photography info
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery power (230 shots)
no Timelapse recording
74
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging highlights
Sony A99 Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
76
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
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Sony A390 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony A99
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony SLT-A99
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-07-28 2012-12-12
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 549 gr (1.21 lbs) 812 gr (1.79 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 89
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 14.0
DXO Low light score 607 1555
Other
Battery life 230 images 500 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 2
Price at launch $500 $1,998