Nikon D3100 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A290

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D3100 compared with Alpha DSLR-A290

	NikonD3100	SonyAlpha DSLR-A290
Overview
Released
Released	September 2010	July 2010
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CMOS	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.1 × 15.4 mm	23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	14.2 MP	14.2 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4608 × 3072	4592 × 3056
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–3200	100–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	14.2 million effective and 14.8 million total pixels; Nikon DX format with approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor-cleaning system and Image Dust Off reference data	Approximately 14.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and image-sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formats
Image formats	NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape Picture Controls; in-camera RAW processing and retouching	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1; 3:2 and 16:9; sRGB and Adobe RGB
ISO detail
ISO detail	ISO 100–3200 in one-stop steps; expanded ISO 6400 and 12800 equivalents; Auto ISO	–
Image processor
Image processor	EXPEED 2	BIONZ (Sony launch announcement)
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Sony A-mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	3 fps	2.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Autofocus with AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Other compatible AF lenses require manual focus. Non-CPU lenses work in manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; electronic rangefinder requires maximum aperture f/5.6 or faster	–
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking; AF-assist lamp. Live view uses contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F with face-priority, wide, normal and subject-tracking areas	Nine-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
Shutter
Shutter	1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second	Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 3 fps under Nikon's manual-focus, S/M, 1/250-second-or-faster test conditions; Japanese specification lists up to 13 RAW, nine RAW plus Fine JPEG or 100 Fine JPEG frames with its specified 4 GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card	Maximum approximately 2.5 fps at full resolution using the optical viewfinder; maker specifies Fine JPEG until card fills, six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames, depending on card and conditions
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; approximately 2.5–3.5 shutter-speed steps depending on lens and shooting conditions
Flash
Flash	Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; hot shoe; optional AS-15 adapter for PC sync	Pop-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 controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto and scene modes; beginner Guide mode with illustrative assist images. 420-pixel RGB metering with Colour Matrix Metering II, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/off	P/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 resolution
Highest video resolution	1920 × 1080 at 24 fps	–
Video detail
Video detail	H.264 MOV at Full HD 24p, 720p 30p/25p/24p or 640 × 424 at 24p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976. Maximum clip ten minutes. Nikon USA's short movie feature list incorrectly describes 640 × 424 as 30 fps; its detailed table and Japan specify 24p. Continuous contrast-detection autofocus available	No movie recording (WIRED); HDMI is for still-image playback
Audio
Audio	Built-in mono microphone with linear PCM recording; no external microphone input	–
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	2.7″
Screen dots
Screen dots	230,000	230,400
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	–	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed 3-inch TFT, approximately 230000 dots, adjustable brightness; dots count subpixels	Fixed Clear Photo LCD; dots count colour subpixels; no live view
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentamirror; approximately 95% frame coverage, 0.8× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint	Pentamirror optical viewfinder; approximately 95% coverage and 0.83× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity (Sony UK specifications). Shared original Asia specification sheet prints 0.74× across the model table; exact UK model table used
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	550 photographs	500 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	455 g (better)	456 g
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Japan records sale on 16 September 2010 for the body, single-lens and double-zoom kits	Sony 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 media
Recording media	One SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; compatible Eye-Fi cards supported	Separate Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo/PRO-HG Duo HX and SD/SDHC card slots
Ports
Ports	Hi-Speed USB, mini-HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mini HDMI Type C; supports BRAVIA Sync and PhotoTV HD; optional infrared remote, without wired remote-release terminal
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	No integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS; optional GP-1 GPS and compatible Eye-Fi card accessories	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL14; approximately 550 CIPA photographs. Nikon USA's later page also lists EN-EL14a compatibility	NP-FH50; approximately 500 photographs under maker CIPA conditions
Charging
Charging	External MH-24 charger; optional EH-5a adapter with EP-5A power connector	–
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 124 × 96 × 74.5 mm from Nikon Japan; Nikon USA's converted inch figures differ slightly	Approximately 128.1 × 97.1 × 79.6 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 455 g body only or 505 g with battery and SD card, excluding body cap	Approximately 456 g without battery, memory card or accessories; approximately 508 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
In the box
In the box	EN-EL14 battery, MH-24 charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-20 eyecup, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-1 shoe cover, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM and two ferrite cores for separately supplied USB/audio-video cables	–