Sony A390

The basics

Although Canon and Nikon get all the praise when it comes to the DSLR market, if you're just starting out and don't have any lenses, Sony's Alpha DSLR range is also well worth a look, with the Sony A390 a good choice.

The good

Available from just £350, the Sony A390 is one of the cheapest DSLRs on the market. It features a slight restyle from the previous A380, and it's all the better for it. Although it still can't match cameras from Nikon or Canon for style, it's a lot more comfortable to hold than the A380, and offers a good set of features.

Considering the price, the Sony A390 has a lot to offer. The 2.7-inch LCD screen can be tilted for better viewing, and Live View lets you check out the action when filming or setting up tripod shots.

The 14.7-megapixel sensor is more than capable of taking decent photographs, but the 18-70mm kit lens doesn't take full advantage, with images proving slightly softer than we'd hoped for. The noise reduction feature works quite well, but it can't match the Canon EOS 1100D for image quality.

The bad

Although the quality of photographs should probably come first when choosing a DLSR, it's difficult not to overlook the Sony A390's awkward styling. Angular and bulky looking, it looks a lot cheaper than its rivals, although it is uncluttered and easy to use.

The bottom line

The Sony A390 is worth a look if price means everything to you, but there are definitely better DSLRs on the market, and in this case it's probably worth spending a little more on something like the Canon EOS 1100D. Sure, in some ways the Sony has more to offer – the tilting screen for instance – but the Canon has it firmly beat when it comes to image quality.