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Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290

Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40
Samsung MV800 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung MV800
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 121g - 92 x 56 x 10mm
  • Launched September 2011
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the MV800 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The MV800 was released 2 years after the W290 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the MV800 grades against the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung MV800 over the Sony W290

 MV800 W290 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2009Newer by 31 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung MV800

 W290 MV800 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Samsung MV800 and Sony W290

 MV800 W290 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Samsung MV800 provides exterior measurements of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the MV800 against the W290.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the MV800 and W290 is 97 and 94 respectively.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The image here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the MV800 and W290.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Samsung MV800 to provide more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent MV800 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung MV800 Portrait photography factors
Sony W290 Portrait photography factors
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung MV800 Street photography features
Sony W290 Street photography features
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung MV800 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung MV800
Travel photography with Sony W290
71
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
offers focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
57
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung MV800 Landscape photography info
Sony W290 Landscape photography info
43
pretty wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
41
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung MV800
Vlogging with Sony W290
34
pretty wide (26mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
28
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung MV800 and Sony W290
 Samsung MV800Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung MV800 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-09-01 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.20 m 3.90 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30/15 fps), 640 x 480 (30/15 fps), 320 x 240 (30/15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 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 121g (0.27 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 56 x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 BP70 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Micro SD Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $499 $230