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Nikon D300S vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A390

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD300SSonyAlpha DSLR-A390
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2009July 2010
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCCD
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP14.2 MP
Largest image4288 × 28484592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200100–3200
Sensor detail13.1 million total pixels; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reductionApproximately 14.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and image-sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEGJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1; 3:2 and 16:9; sRGB and Adobe RGB
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO–
Image processorEXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition SystemBIONZ (Sony launch announcement)
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst7 fps2.5 fps
Lens detailBody AF motor supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered. IX and F3AF lenses unsupported–
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningNine-point TTL phase detection with central cross sensor; EV 0–18 at ISO 100; single, automatic and continuous AF plus manual focus; Eye-start AF and flash AF illumination
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 at reduced flash range; Quiet release mode; shutter tested to 150000 cyclesElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailApproximately 7 fps with EN-EL3e in the body; up to 8 fps with MB-D10 and EN-EL4a. Nikon Japan specifies approximately 7.7 fps with eight AA cells in MB-D10 and 7.6 fps with AC power. 14-bit RAW is limited to approximately 2.5 fpsMaximum approximately 2.5 fps at full resolution using the optical viewfinder or approximately 2 fps in Quick AF Live View; maker specifies Fine JPEG until card fills, six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames, depending on card and conditions
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationSteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; approximately 2.5–3.5 shutter-speed steps depending on lens and shooting conditions
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminalPop-up flash, guide number 10 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; Sony Alpha accessory shoe; wireless flash with compatible optional external flash
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timerP/A/S/M and scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb SPC metering; ±2 EV in 0.3 EV steps; three-frame exposure bracketing at 0.3 or 0.7 EV; Dynamic Range Optimizer Off, Standard and Advanced
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps–
Video detail1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216 at 24 fps; Motion-JPEG AVI. Maximum clip length five minutes at 720p or twenty minutes at lower resolutions. Contrast-detection autofocus can be initiated during recording in Tripod modeNo movie recording (PhotographyBlog and TechRadar); HDMI is for still-image playback
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivity–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″2.7″
Screen dots921,000230,400
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixelsClear Photo LCD, tilting up approximately 135° and down 55°; dots count colour subpixels; separate live-view sensor with approximately 90% frame coverage and 1.4×/2× cropped Smart Teleconverter
Viewfinder detailPentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepointPentamirror optical viewfinder; approximately 95% coverage and 0.74× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity
Connections and design
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)950 photographs500 photographs
Body weight840 g497 g
Release detailNikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the monthSony Spain's original announcement specifies availability in the first half of July 2010; month precision retained. Sony Europe's parallel announcement states summer 2010; DPReview also reports July shipping
Recording mediaDual slots for CompactFlash Type I with UDMA and SD/SDHC; backup, overflow, separate RAW/JPEG and card-to-card copying. CompactFlash Type II and Microdrive unsupportedSeparate Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo/PRO-HG Duo HX and SD/SDHC card slots
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash syncUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mini HDMI Type C; supports BRAVIA Sync and PhotoTV HD; optional infrared remote, without wired remote-release terminal
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-Fi–
Battery life detailEN-EL3e; approximately 950 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000 shots. MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cellsNP-FH50; approximately 500 photographs using the optical viewfinder or 230 in live view under maker CIPA conditions
ChargingMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapter–
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 114 × 74 mmApproximately 128.1 × 97.1 × 83.5 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detailApproximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 497 g without battery, memory card or accessories; approximately 549 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key points–

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