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Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony ZV-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
86
Overall
67

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 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
  • Older Model is Sony A380
Sony ZV-1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 294g - 105 x 60 x 44mm
  • Launched May 2020
  • Later Model is Sony ZV-1 II
Photography Glossary

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Sony A390 and Sony ZV-1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and ZV-1 (20MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and ZV-1 (1") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The A390 was introduced 10 years before the ZV-1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony ZV-1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the A390 grades vs the ZV-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony ZV-1

 A390 ZV-1 

Reasons to pick Sony ZV-1 over the Sony A390

 ZV-1 A390 
LaunchedMay 2020July 2010Fresher by 119 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony ZV-1

 A390 ZV-1 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A390 enjoys exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony ZV-1 has measurements of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 294 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A390 and Sony ZV-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the A390 and the ZV-1.

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A390 and ZV-1 is 66 and 88 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The photograph underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A390 and ZV-1.

Plainly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A390 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony ZV-1 will produce more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The older A390 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A390
Portrait photography with Sony ZV-1
72
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 Street photography advice
Sony ZV-1 Street photography advice
76
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
85
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
features focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (294 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 Sports photography highlights
Sony ZV-1 Sports photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (3.0 fps)
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
71
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (260 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A390 Travel photography highlights
Sony ZV-1 Travel photography highlights
53
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
81
lighter than competition in class (294 grams)
has bluetooth
features focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
bad battery power (260 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A390 Landscape photography advice
Sony ZV-1 Landscape photography advice
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
70
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
bad battery power (260 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A390
Vlogging with Sony ZV-1
9
no video recording
86
reasonably wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
lighter than competition in class (294g)
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Sony A390 vs Sony ZV-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony ZV-1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony ZV-1
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony ZV-1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-07-28 2020-05-27
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lbs) 294 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 105 x 60 x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7")
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 images 260 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $500 $750