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Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
50
Overall
53
Samsung NX5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung NX5
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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 NX5 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Samsung NX5 and Sony W290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the NX5 (15MP) and W290 (12MP) and the NX5 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The NX5 was revealed 16 months later than the W290 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the NX5 matches up versus the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX5 over the Sony W290

 NX5 W290 
IntroducedJune 2010February 2009Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung NX5

 W290 NX5 

Common features in the Samsung NX5 and Sony W290

 NX5 W290 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX5 comes with outer dimensions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Samsung NX5 and Sony W290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the NX5 versus the W290.

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX5 and W290 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading technical specs. The photograph below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NX5 and W290.

As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NX5 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Samsung NX5 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent NX5 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX5
Portrait photography with Sony W290
73
manual focus
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
27
focusing manually
no manual control
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX5 as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (499 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX5 Sports photography info
Sony W290 Sports photography info
52
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX5 Travel photography highlights
Sony W290 Travel photography highlights
63
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (499g)
screen is not selfie friendly
57
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
41
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX5 Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
24
features face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than others in class (499 grams)
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Samsung NX5 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX5 and Sony W290
 Samsung NX5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-01 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DRIM Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Available lenses 32 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 11.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 499g (1.10 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 123 x 87 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $499 $230