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Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290

Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67
Samsung NX300 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung NX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Superseded the Samsung NX210
  • Later Model is Samsung NX500
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Samsung NX300 versus Sony W290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the NX300 (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the NX300 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The NX300 was manufactured 4 years later than the W290 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung NX300 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the NX300 grades versus the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300 over the Sony W290

 NX300 W290 
IntroducedNovember 2013February 2009Fresher by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k230kCrisper screen (+538k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung NX300

 W290 NX300 

Common features in the Samsung NX300 and Sony W290

 NX300 W290 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX300 features outer measurements of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") and a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Samsung NX300 versus Sony W290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the NX300 vs the W290.

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the NX300 and W290 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing specifications. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the NX300 and W290.

Plainly, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NX300 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Samsung NX300 will offer you more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NX300 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX300
Portrait photography with Sony W290
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX300 Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
has focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX300 Sports photography details
Sony W290 Sports photography details
73
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX300 Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
67
has focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
57
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX300 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3.3 inches)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
41
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX300
Vlogging with Sony W290
33
has touchscreen
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
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Samsung NX300 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX300 and Sony W290
 Samsung NX300Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-11-24 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DRIMe IV -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Available lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3.3" 3"
Display resolution 768 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 331g (0.73 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 76 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 942 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $750 $230