Clicky

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Samsung GX-1S front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung GX-1S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed January 2006
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the GX-1S (6MP) and W290 (12MP) and the GX-1S (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The GX-1S was manufactured 4 years earlier than the W290 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Samsung GX-1S being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the GX-1S scores against the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung GX-1S over the Sony W290

 GX-1S W290 

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung GX-1S

 W290 GX-1S 
RevealedFebruary 2009January 2006Newer by 37 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k210kSharper display (+20k dot)

Common features in the Samsung GX-1S and Sony W290

 GX-1S W290 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung GX-1S provides exterior measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) while the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the GX-1S versus the W290.

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GX-1S and W290 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GX-1S and W290.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GX-1S due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony W290 will provide extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images more aggressively. The more aged GX-1S will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung GX-1S Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
50
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
low resolution (6MP)
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Samsung GX-1S Street photography info
Sony W290 Street photography info
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (605 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Samsung GX-1S Sports photography advice
Sony W290 Sports photography advice
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (6MP)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Samsung GX-1S Travel photography details
Sony W290 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competition (605g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low resolution (6MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
57
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Samsung GX-1S Landscape photography factors
Sony W290 Landscape photography factors
46
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution (6MP)
no Timelapse function
41
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung GX-1S Vlogging features
Sony W290 Vlogging features
9
no video recording
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Samsung GX-1S vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung GX-1S and Sony W290
 Samsung GX-1SSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung GX-1S Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2006-01-16 2009-02-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3008 x 2008 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 210 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 605g (1.33 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/MMC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $850 $230