Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2010/09/10/grouptest_budget_dslr_cameras_sony_alpha_a290/

Sony Alpha A290

By Dave Stevenson

Posted in Personal Tech, 10th September 2010 07:00 GMT

Review The topmost plastic of the 14.2Mp Sony A290 might be slightly mottled to make it look like it's a distant relation to magnesium alloy, but pick it up and it's easy enough to guess where the camera lies in Sony's range – the all-plastic finish is a tad uninspiring.

Sony A290

Yet everything falls neatly to hand, and although more experienced photographers would prefer a few more physical buttons to get things done, Sony has made some good decisions. Autofocus mode, continuous shooting and ISO are all quickly accessed from the navpad on the back and a click of the front-mounted jog dial.

Less frequently changed options, such as white balance and metering mode, require slightly more involved menu navigation. The only drawback is the grip – as someone with bear paws instead of hands, getting comfortable was a little awkward.

The A290 has a 2.7in display, the A290 and twin card slots for Sony’s Memory Stick Pro and SD cards. Also, like all Alphas, the A290 has integrated image stabilisation, shifting the CCD sensor to accommodate for shaky hands or long exposures.

Usefully, the screen can also display a small guide. It’s not as advanced as the Nikon D3000’s, but uses a sliding scale to convey information. The shutter speed scale, for instance, shows an icon of a running man on the right and one of someone standing still on the left – the faster the shutter, the farther right the needle moves, denoting its suitability for moving targets. There’s a similar diagram for aperture, and both should prove useful if you occasionally forget which way’s which.

Sony Alpha A290

Sample Shots

Sony A290

Wide-Angle
Click for a full-resolution crop

Sony A290

Tele-photo
Click for a full-resolution crop

Sony A290

Click for a full-resolution crop

Sony A290

Click for a full-resolution crop

Sony A290

Click for a full-resolution crop

The images are silky smooth below ISO 800, and at ISO 800 and 1600 there's a forgivable amount of noise. For pixel-peepers, the noise generated by the Canon 1000D arguably leaves more detail behind and is more aesthetically pleasing, though. Otherwise, there's nothing to complain about - the A290 takes great pictures.

Verdict

Performance is good, rather than great. The fastest the A290 went in continuous mode was just under 2fps. This is fine for blink-free portrait shots but not so much use for wildlife. On the plus side, it has a capacious buffer, taking 20 frames in JPEG mode before slowing down. The A290 is a capable camera with a price tag that is already beginning to dip since its launch this summer, so it’s worth shopping around, as you could be looking at a bargain. ®

Next: Budget DSLR Camera Best Buys