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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290

Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62
Samsung NX3000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Replaced the Samsung NX2000
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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Samsung NX3000 versus Sony A290, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Samsung and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the NX3000 (20MP) and A290 (14MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The NX3000 was introduced 4 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX3000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the NX3000 grades versus the A290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Sony A290

 NX3000 A290 
RevealedMay 2014June 2010Fresher by 49 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Samsung NX3000

 A290 NX3000 

Common features in the Samsung NX3000 and Sony A290

 NX3000 A290 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Samsung NX3000 enjoys outside measurements of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Samsung NX3000 versus Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the NX3000 versus the A290.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NX3000 and A290 is 89 and 66 respectively.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The visual underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the NX3000 and A290.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Samsung NX3000 to produce greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger NX3000 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
77
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
65
you can focus manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Street photography information
Sony A290 Street photography information
81
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (230 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Sports photography details
Sony A290 Sports photography details
56
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Travel photography advice
Sony A290 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition (230 grams)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
does not have liveview
not so great battery (290 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
34
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (230 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX3000 and Sony A290
 Samsung NX3000Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX3000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-05-26 2010-06-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 32 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 615
Other
Battery life 370 images 290 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID B740 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2-30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $897 $600