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Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290

Portability
58
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53
Samsung GX-20 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Samsung GX-20
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 72mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Superseded the Samsung GX-10
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A230
Photography Glossary

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GX-20 (15MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The GX-20 was released 3 years earlier than the A290 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung GX-20 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the GX-20 matches up versus the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung GX-20 over the Sony A290

 GX-20 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Samsung GX-20

 A290 GX-20 
IntroducedJune 2010January 2008Fresher by 28 months

Common features in the Samsung GX-20 and Sony A290

 GX-20 A290 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Samsung GX-20 comes with outer dimensions of 142mm x 101mm x 72mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the GX-20 vs the A290.

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GX-20 and A290 is 58 and 66 respectively.

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GX-20 and A290.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Samsung GX-20 to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older GX-20 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung GX-20 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
65
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung GX-20 Street photography information
Sony A290 Street photography information
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Samsung GX-20 Sports photography details
Sony A290 Sports photography details
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung GX-20 Travel photography info
Sony A290 Travel photography info
64
environment sealing
decent MP (15MP)
built-in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
53
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung GX-20 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung GX-20
Vlogging with Sony A290
9
can't shoot video
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung GX-20 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung GX-20 and Sony A290
 Samsung GX-20Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung GX-20 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-01-24 2010-06-09
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4688 x 3120 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 101 x 72mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 68 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 11.5
DXO Low light score 714 615
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $850 $600