Visit our Business Solutions website >>

Sony Alpha a290

Sony Alpha a290
Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290Sony Alpha a290
alaScore 87

316 reviews

Apr, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 316 reviews of Sony Alpha a290. The average rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. People are impressed by the performance and image quality. The portability and price are also appreciated. Many are less positive about the low light performance and shutter. Comments are divided on the battery.

usability, price, portability, image quality, performance

lens, flash, viewfinder, shutter, low-light

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Sony Alpha a290 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 87/100 = Very good quality.

See all Sony Digital Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 316 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (46% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (46% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (6% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (1% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (1% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
  Show positive (89%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (74%)Show negative (26%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
lens
  Show positive (38%)Show negative (63%)(Show all)
image quality
  Show positive (91%)Show negative (9%)(Show all)
performance
  Show positive (77%)Show negative (23%)(Show all)
screen
  Show positive (57%)Show negative (43%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (71%)Show negative (29%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
focus
  Show positive (64%)Show negative (36%)(Show all)
glare
  Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)
flash
  Show positive (22%)Show negative (78%)(Show all)
viewfinder
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
shutter
  Show positive (25%)Show negative (75%)(Show all)
low-light
  Show positive (40%)Show negative (60%)(Show all)
exposure
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (67%)Show negative (33%)(Show all)
video
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
zoom
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
storage
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
optics
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
sensor
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
color
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
memory
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
Show more features

Showing 208 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.
Showing 1 - 32 of 208 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (108)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony Alpha a290

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 17 user reviews of Sony Alpha a290 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Opinions about the durability and price are overall positive. The portability and image quality are also mentioned favorably. There are some mixed reviews about the reliability.

usability, image quality, portability, price, durability

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony Alpha a290

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 5 user reviews of Sony Alpha a290 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. People are impressed by the portability. There are some mixed opinions about the usability, and some have doubts about the performance.

portability

performance

80% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Audley Jarvis (whatdigitalcamera.com)

Sony Alpha A290 review

 

The Sony A290: the perfect DSLR for those on a small budget? The What Digital Camera Sony A290 review tests it out...

Ultra-affordable

Limited features

Feb, 2011
Read the full review

Expert review by : Dave Stevenson (reghardware.co.uk)

Sony Alpha A290

 

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...

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...

Sep, 2010
Read the full review

Expert review by : Andrew Hoyle (wired.co.uk)

Sony Alpha a290 DSLR camera review

 

The 14.2-megapixel Sony a290 aims to bridge amateurs into thebusy world of the DSLR, offering decent image quality, simpleoperation and a host of scene selections within a small andlightweight body that, at £400, could be a smart choice for...

Helpful onscreen guides make life easy for beginners. Small,lightweight design. Wide range of lenses available. Built-in flash.Good value for money

Average low light performance. Cheap feel to construction. NoLive View mode and no video capture

If you are used to your compact digital cameras and somewhatnervous about making the leap to a DSLR, the a290 should definitelybe on your mind due to its great ease of use.

Aug, 2010
Read the full review

Expert review by (photographymonthly.com)

Easy-to-use DSLR-A390 and DSLR-A290

 

Easy-to-use DSLR-A390 and DSLR-A290

Ideal for first-time DSLR users, the DSLR-A390 (α390) and DSLR-A290 (α290) offer a dramatic step up in picture quality and creative options from point-and-shoot compact cameras. Just as importantly, they're incredibly easy to use, even if you've never...

Jun, 2010
Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290L with 18-55mm lens

 

"Real" camera feel. Versatile, with brilliant quality output. Auto settings work well with quick reaction times and continuous shooting..

Noisy shutter - but what do I expect from a movable mirror?

Jul, 2013
Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290L With 18-55MM Lens

 

Real" camera feel. Versatile, with brilliant quality output. Auto settings work well with quick reaction times and continuous shooting

Noisy shutter - but what do I expect from a movable mirror

May, 2013
Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Y with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses

 

It`s extremely cheap! Very easy to use, nice beginners camera. One of the last classic SLR Sony made. Camera produces very nice and vibrant colours, with good optics, it`s capable to take very nice results even when comparing with more expensive...

Poor LCD screen. Only photo mode.

Feb, 2013
Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290L with 18-55mm lens

 

onscreen instruction

none

Nov, 2012
Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290L with 18-55mm lens

 

easy to use, Great value, feels great in the hand

no live view or video recording

Jun, 2012
Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290L with 18-55mm lens

 

Good balance/ weight

Some controls bit fiddly to use- when 'in action'

Feb, 2012
Read the full review
1
2
3
4
5

Price comparison for Sony Alpha a290

Top 5 Digital Cameras

#1 Fujifilm X100VI Fujifilm X100VI
#2 Nikon Z8 Nikon Z8
#3 GoPro Hero12 Black GoPro Hero12 Black
#4 Panasonic Lumix S5 II Panasonic Lumix S5 II
#5 Sony a6700 Sony a6700
Compare