The Sony Alpha 390 is a sequel to the Alpha 380, which in turn was introduced by the company as an improved version of the Alpha 350. All three models have almost the same set of features, including the Fast AF Live View system.
The novelty boasts similar performance indicators to the previous model, including all its positive and negative points, with some improvements in ergonomics, namely a more comfortable handle shape, and a slightly modified design of the top panel.
Here are the main details that set the Sony Alpha 390 apart from its predecessor:
- weight is about 6 grams more
- more comfortable grip
- changed position of controls
- new texture and color of the top panel
Visually, the Sony A390 and A380 are the same, but not absolutely, the main difference between the cameras is in ergonomics, since in terms of design they are almost identical and have the same size. The larger handle and the improved arrangement of the buttons on the top panel are very nice innovations, the shape has become more convenient, and now it is much easier to activate the necessary functions.
From the front it is easy to tell that all three cameras are from the A300 family, only the A380 stands out for its smaller grip and silver plastic top panel. The Sony Alpha 390 is much closer to the 350 in terms of appearance, although it retained some of the silvery elements out of the 380.
When viewing the cameras from above, the changed position of the buttons and the new shape of the handle become clearly visible.
One point that is missing from the Sony Alpha 390 spec is the size of the viewfinder. This is an important characteristic that determines the degree of ease of use of the camera. The larger it is made, the easier it is to aim and focus, and the more enjoyable the process. In this case, it is of medium size, which will be sufficient for occasional use. But if more frequent use is required, it can cause certain inconveniences, especially for experienced users.
Positive characteristics:
- good RAW resolution
- fast real-time autofocus
- improved ergonomics for current operations
- more comfortable grip
- Effective Steady Shot Image Stabilization System
- a guide for new camera users and newbies
Negative sides:
- high ISO positions are inferior in quality to competitors
- small viewfinder
- a small number of controls
- lack of video output
- insufficiently powerful flash
Sony Alpha 390 is an improved modification of its predecessor. And definitely the new model can be safely called "the same camera with a new grip." The ergonomic changes come in handy, and the A390 is a more comfortable camera than the A380. However, mention should be made of the small size of the viewfinder, which can make it difficult to aim the camera for people who wear glasses.
Looking at the pictures taken by the A390, we can safely say that they correspond to the level of quality of the previous model, which was sufficient for cameras of this price range two years ago, but is currently inferior in this parameter to a large group of competitors. At its core, the A390 is an easy-to-use camera that, with just a little attention, produces great images. In what it is inferior, so it is in speed, quality of images at high ISO levels. It is worth mentioning the Steady Shot Inside system, which copes quite effectively with its image stabilization function.
As always, the best image quality can be obtained from RAW files, but for cameras of this level, JPEG quality is more important when evaluating the resulting photos.At medium values, the Sony Alpha 390 produces perfectly acceptable images, which cannot be said with the inclusion of high ISO settings.