The alpha 290 currently provides the best way, go into the SLR class of Sony. At the price of a good compact camera, the alpha 290 offers a sensor in APS-C size with considerable 14 Megapixels resolution. Saved has Sony but at the facilities: LiveView does not know the alpha 290, she can take any videos. Our test clears up whether the alpha 290 has the makings of a purist beginner’s camera or already was overtaken by the course of time.

Ergonomics and processing as with so many DSLRs from Sony is the alpha 290 member of a whole together. Its larger sister, the alpha 390, we have tested recently (see links at the end of the post). It, it is different alpha 290 due to the missing LiveView option. With the smallest DSLR from the program from Sony, you so always classically composed his photos by looking through the viewfinder. For the alpha 290 is around 150 euros cheaper than its larger sister, therefore one of the best digital SLRs at all. And it offers an optical viewfinder, which still meets this description. Although the low-cost construction of Penta produces only a moderately bright viewfinder image, but it is large enough (95% viewfinder coverage, 0,83-fache enlargement), that also people who wear glasses somewhat to cope. The exit pupil also provides a diopter correction, the glasses must be so not necessarily mounted to the recording.

The housing of the alpha 290 is well in hand. Had abandoned Alpha 230 on a distinctive handle Sony when its predecessor, the current alpha 290 shows the familiar hump on the right side again. The plastic housing is not very elegant, but answered on the other hand you access with Kuscheltücher or Knarzen sounds. The extensive waiver of metal makes easy the housing of the alpha 290 also pleasant – she have ready (but no lens) presses no 500 grams on the scales. After all: Mount and tripod are manufactured from solid Edeltstahl and promise a long service life. Apparently rather fashionable considerations as ergonomically following Sony engineers have placed ring the on / off switch to the shutter button. Thus, the main switch is too close to the front command dial, increases the risk of misuse. Top left on the camera body is a proper mode dial dial, with which to quickly change the configuration of the alpha of 290. All major ports and slots for memory cards have easily accessible hidden on the left side of the case under a large “sliding door” the Sony engineers – this is useful. There are, however, only home cooking on the back: the display is not just lush dimensioned with a diagonal measurement of 2.7 inches (6.9 cm), humble resolution of 230.400 pixels by today’s standards. For this, the monitor of the alpha 290 are always quite auskunftsfreudig: on request, he displays a brief explanation and example image to the currently selected setting. If you would like to can show also a small graphic to represent the chosen time / aperture combination with the “display” key – newcomers to DSLR photography will learn to appreciate this support quickly.

The menu is quite clearly designed typical of cameras from Sony. This may also contribute that something knausert the alpha 290 as entry-level camera for the setting options. Thanks to the practical fn button on the back of excursions in the menu are alpha 290 anyway rarely necessary: important basic functions like white balance or the choice of the Belichtungsmessmethode, can quickly access with their help. It is less convenient, however, that single AF fields only by this fn button can be selected. Only to the exposure compensation, the alpha 290 offers a dedicated button. For this, Sony has placed the Akkuschacht in a distance to the tripod. The energy of the type NP-FH50 can easily exchange even in planned quick-release plate. With 6.1 Watt hours, the battery well 500 shots is enough.

Facilities that the Sony Alpha 290 will be no professional camera, reveals even their appearance that is sparingly equipped with buttons and switches. Rather the camera primarily aimed at photographers (and photographers), the recordings attractive without deep setting orgies to to come. Most of the work decreases while the alpha 290 one with the green “car” program. Here, it chooses the settings appropriate to the subject and the light independently. If you love to detail, one of the seven design programs (such as “portrait” or “Landscape”) provides. Creative and experienced photographers are also the usual semi-automatic exposure programs (Aperture or time code) in the alpha 290, even fully manually, the camera can be control. The Flash system leaves nothing to be desired: the alpha 290 dominated flashing on the second curtain as well as synchronization with a long shutter speed. A small Flash (Guide number 10) is on board, he can serve as a control unit for an unfettered system Flash. Should the light for the auto focus is not sufficient, the small Flash with a stroboscope Salve illuminated the scene.

Although the alpha 290 is the smallest DSLR in the range, so Sony has given but the SteadyShot her on the way. This Verwacklungsschutz offset the tremors of a too troubled photographer hand by sensor movement. Advantage of this system (how it is used similarly for Pentax and Olympus): the Verwacklungsschutz works with any lens. In practice, this anti-shake allows prolonging the exposure time to about three stages. Sony is extremely economical Alpha 290 which, however, in terms of “ISO Auto”: the camera chooses stubbornly a sensitivity between ISO 100 and ISO 400, manually can be however set up to ISO 3,200. Too, contrasts in the scenery of fortified can tame the alpha of 290 with the function “Optimize dynamic range” (DRO). It is turned on, the dark image sections are highlighted automatically. This works well, is, but has long been not as effective as a real HDR function of multiple differently exposed images with each other will be charged. In semi-automatic or manual exposure control allows the alpha 290 also adapting to the personal needs, contrast, sharpness and saturation of the recordings. In addition there are some picture styles as presets, such as for “Landscape”, “Black and white” or “Evening scene”.

The auto focus of the alpha 290 is based on nine focus points. Thus, the camera from 0.3 to 0.6 seconds need to make the subject sharp. Although no peaks are is still fine. Previous refocused the alpha 290 quite fix responds, a picture is about a tenth of a second after pressing the shutter button in the box. Determined we have with these values set lens Sony DT F3, 5-5, 6 / 18-55 mm SAM. This lens does not quite from the potential of the alpha 290, especially a quite high waste of the resolution to the edges of the image and is his ultimate weakness. After all Sony has powered a car focus drive by motor the set lens, which moves the lens groups quite quietly. This is above all to the video capture important, a possibility which is however missing the alpha 290. For this, it continues to have the inherited from Minolta, mechanical autofocus drive. All AF lenses, introduced since 1983 Minolta can therefore to use without restriction to the Sony Alpha 290.

Image quality at the heart of the alpha 290 is a CCD sensor that resolves some 14 megapixel. Now has come the CCD technology in DSLRs a bit out of fashion, CMOS sensor noise at higher sensitivities simply much less. In addition, the somewhat elderly CCD sensors can be read long not as fast as their CMOS cousins, lower serial imaging rates are the result. On the other hand, is said to the CCD technology at lower sensitivities distinct advantages in the detail. And in fact, it convinces Alpha 290 at ISO 200 with a clear rendering fine detail and appealing micro contrasts. Since Sony do well without an aggressive processing the focus, the restrained sharpening of the alpha 290 convinced all along the line. The noise has the alpha 290, however, less well: already at ISO 400 the camera noise curve continues to significantly. Especially the red channel is this particularly hastily upwards. And blotchy, often red-dyed color disorders are so even at low ISO sensitivities. With increasing sensitivity, these disorders grow out almost like a cloud. Much better the Alpha has 290 the luminance noise under control: it is not easily noticeable at ISO 1600, don’t mind but in the expression.

The tone curve of the alpha 290 is more crisp matched with strong contrasts in the depths and lights. In principle, a such crisp tone curve is well suited for photos to be issued without further imaging on paper. Which preclude, however, that the alpha 290 (like so many cameras) records a high black level – black is again they tend to be as very dark grey, the recordings are thus flauer as necessary. However, the input dynamic of Alpha 290 is neat: processed a contrast difference of around eight f-stops (EV) up to ISO 800, only with the maximum sensitivity of ISO 3,200 decreases the dynamic range to still acceptable 7.3 EV. Even in the levels of compression of JPEG files Sony has done wrong nothing: Although the alpha 290 offers only the choice between “Standard” and “Fine” – both stages are but well adapted to their specific purpose (file size or image quality). If you would like to rely on the internal vision of Alpha 290, also has the ability to record his photos in RAW format and then using the included software “Sony Image Data Converter SR” on the PC screen to develop according to his wishes.

Conclusion the Sony Alpha 290 shines with impressive image quality, nor with a burgeoning wealth of equipment. But measured at the price the purist approach of the camera like fallen quite. Who can dispense with video footage and LiveView, will receive a camera which offers significantly more especially in terms of “Quality” than a compact camera from the same price range with the alpha of 290. But above all, the alpha 290 seamlessly inserts in the Sony DSLR system and forms as a proper basis – for AF lenses from the inheritance of Minolta. It is also the image stabilizer by sensor-shift, which stabilizes virtually any lens. Typical for an entry-level DSLR is missing however professional features such as mirror lock or control key. The operation is somewhat menu focused, gives up little puzzle. Pity only that the alpha 290 somewhat sluggish responds to inputs and the sensor no longer contemporary color noise in the images beyond slips from ISO 800 today.