If you love the Alpha A230, you sure will appreciate the Alpha A290 more. This new Alpha model comes with a body similar to the A290 but it has a more traditional grip that makes it more comfortable. The A290 is based on a Sony Bionz Image processor and an APS-C sized 14.2 effective megapixel image sensor. The said sensor is positioned on a moveable platter which provides it with its in-body SteadyShot image stabilization capability. With the unit’s optical viewfinder, it becomes capable of shooting at 2.5 frames per second. It also includes the company’s anti dust system which is made up of low-charge coating over the sensor. To remove dust, you just have to use the sensor shift mechanism.
The Alpha A290 comes with a very simple design. Its interface has fewer rear-panel buttons and it comes with a GUI design with extensive settings which is available via the LCD display. Also, this camera comes equipped with a pentad dach-mirror TTl optical viewfinder with 95% coverage, 0.83x magnification, -2.5 to +1.0m-1 diopter correction and a 16.5mm eyepoint. On the camera’s rear panel is a 2.7†LCD display with 230,400 dots of resolution. It offers five-step manual brightness control and live view capability.
Moreover, the Sony Alpha A290 is outfitted with a nine-point autofocus system with sensitivities ranging from ISO 100 (minimum) to ISO 3,200 (maximum) and shutter speeds range from 1/4000 to 30 seconds plus bulb. Metering is also achieved, thanks to the unit’s 40-segment honeycomb SPC. Sony has also equipped the A290 with Dynamic Range Optimization, built-in auto popup flash, as well as hot shoe for external flash strobes. Since this unit will be available in July, you can go for its predecessor, the Sony A230
