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Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290

Portability
66
Imaging
68
Features
90
Overall
76
Samsung NX1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Samsung NX1
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 550g - 139 x 102 x 66mm
  • Announced September 2014
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
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Samsung NX1 and Sony A290, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the NX1 (28MP) and A290 (14MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The NX1 was brought out 4 years after the A290 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the NX1 matches up versus the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX1 over the Sony A290

 NX1 A290 
IntroducedSeptember 2014June 2010More modern by 52 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kCrisper display (+806k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Samsung NX1

 A290 NX1 

Common features in the Samsung NX1 and Sony A290

 NX1 A290 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Samsung NX1 offers physical measurements of 139mm x 102mm x 66mm (5.5" x 4.0" x 2.6") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Samsung NX1 and Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the NX1 against the A290.

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX1 and A290 is 66 and 66 respectively.

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the NX1 and A290.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Samsung NX1 to give greater detail having its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The fresher NX1 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX1 Portrait photography info
Sony A290 Portrait photography info
80
manual focus
resolution is excellent (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
65
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX1 Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
74
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (550 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX1 Sports photography highlights
Sony A290 Sports photography highlights
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
resolution is excellent (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX1 Travel photography features
Sony A290 Travel photography features
74
lighter than competition in class (550g)
weather proof
has bluetooth
has touch focus
resolution is excellent (28 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not posses selfie friendly display
53
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (290 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX1
Landscape photography with Sony A290
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
resolution is excellent (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX1
Vlogging with Sony A290
34
touchscreen functionality
has face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic support
lighter than competition in class (550g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
9
no video recording
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Samsung NX1 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX1 and Sony A290
 Samsung NX1Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-09-15 2010-06-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DRIMe 5 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 28MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6480 x 4320 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 209 9
Cross type focus points 153 -
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,036 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 15.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 11.00 m (ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 -
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video file format H.265 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 102 x 66mm (5.5" x 4.0" x 2.6") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 83 66
DXO Color Depth rating 24.2 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.2 11.5
DXO Low light rating 1363 615
Other
Battery life 500 shots 290 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1900 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II) Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $1,500 $600