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Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290

Portability
86
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66
Samsung NX300M front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung NX300M
(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 January 2013
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
  • Released February 2009
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Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the NX300M (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the NX300M (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The NX300M was unveiled 3 years after the W290 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX300M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the NX300M scores against the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Sony W290

 NX300M W290 
ReleasedJanuary 2013February 2009Newer by 48 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k230kCrisper screen (+538k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung NX300M

 W290 NX300M 

Common features in the Samsung NX300M and Sony W290

 NX300M W290 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX300M provides outside measurements of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") along with a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs) while 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 the Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the NX300M and the W290.

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the NX300M and W290 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The picture below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the NX300M and W290.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NX300M having a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Samsung NX300M will resolve more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger NX300M will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX300M Portrait photography highlights
Sony W290 Portrait photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX300M Street photography features
Sony W290 Street photography features
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
supports touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX300M as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX300M as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
66
supports touch focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
57
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX300M Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
72
you can focus manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3.3 inch)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
41
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX300M Vlogging features
Sony W290 Vlogging features
33
has touchscreen
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic socket
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Samsung NX300M vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX300M and Sony W290
 Samsung NX300MSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX300M Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-01-03 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DRIMe IV -
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 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.3" 3"
Resolution of display 768k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings 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
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 331g (0.73 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
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 not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Type 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
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $699 $230