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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Old Model is Samsung NX20
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the NX30 (20MP) and A290 (14MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX30 was unveiled 3 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the NX30 matches up vs the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A290

 NX30 A290 
ReleasedJanuary 2014June 2010More recent by 44 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kSharper screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Samsung NX30

 A290 NX30 

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A290

 NX30 A290 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Samsung NX30 has outside measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") along with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) and the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the NX30 vs the A290.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NX30 and A290 is 75 and 66 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The visual here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the NX30 and A290.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Samsung NX30 to result in greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent NX30 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
Portrait photography with Sony A290
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
65
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX30 Street photography features
Sony A290 Street photography features
75
screen articulates
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
74
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3")
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 Vlogging info
Sony A290 Vlogging info
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A290
 Samsung NX30Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-01-03 2010-06-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DRIMeIV Bionz
Sensor type 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 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,036k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology AMOLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
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 None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 375 gr (0.83 pounds) 549 gr (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 11.5
DXO Low light score 1014 615
Other
Battery life 360 photos 290 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP1410 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $699 $600