Clicky

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290

Portability
90
Imaging
62
Features
57
Overall
60
Samsung NX210 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung NX210
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 222g - 117 x 63 x 37mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Previous Model is Samsung NX200
  • Newer Model is Samsung NX300
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
  • Revealed February 2009
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the NX210 (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the NX210 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The NX210 was manufactured 3 years after the W290 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX210 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the NX210 grades against the W290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX210 over the Sony W290

 NX210 W290 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2009Newer by 43 months
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung NX210

 W290 NX210 

Common features in the Samsung NX210 and Sony W290

 NX210 W290 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX210 comes with physical dimensions 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 W290 has proportions 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 NX210 vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the NX210 versus the W290.

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the NX210 and W290 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX210 and W290.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The NX210 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Samsung NX210 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer NX210 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX210 Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Samsung NX210 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
73
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (222 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Samsung NX210 Sports photography highlights
Sony W290 Sports photography highlights
56
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Samsung NX210 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than average in class (222 grams)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
57
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX210 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
41
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX210
Vlogging with Sony W290
34
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (222 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic port
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Samsung NX210 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX210 and Sony W290
 Samsung NX210Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX210 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-14 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens mount Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 32 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 222 grams (0.49 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 63 x 37mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 719 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BC1030 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $625 $230