Samsung NX210 vs Sony A290

Below is a extended analysis of the Samsung NX210 and Sony A290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the NX210 (20MP) and A290 (14MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The NX210 was introduced 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX210 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the NX210 grades versus the A290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung NX210 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are viewable at Samsung NX210 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX210 offers exterior measurements of 117mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Samsung NX210 and Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the NX210 against the A290.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX210 and A290 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the NX210 and A290.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Samsung NX210 to result in greater detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The newer NX210 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.