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Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Replaced the Samsung NX300
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Samsung and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and W290 (12MP) and the NX500 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The NX500 was unveiled 6 years after the W290 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the NX500 matches up against the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Sony W290

 NX500 W290 
LaunchedFebruary 2015February 2009Newer by 73 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k230kSharper display (+806k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung NX500

 W290 NX500 

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Sony W290

 NX500 W290 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Samsung NX500 has outside measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the NX500 against the W290.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX500 and W290 is 87 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The image underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the NX500 and W290.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The NX500 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Samsung NX500 will produce greater detail having an extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer NX500 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX500
Portrait photography with Sony W290
80
you can focus manually
resolution is high (28 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX500
Street photography with Sony W290
81
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
75
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
resolution is high (28MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX500
Travel photography with Sony W290
78
connects via bluetooth
includes touch focus
resolution is high (28 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is high (28 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
41
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX500 Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
34
touch screen
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Sony W290
 Samsung NX500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2015-02-06 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DRIMe 5 -
Sensor type BSI-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 28 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6480 x 4320 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 209 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,036k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video file format H.265 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 287 gr (0.63 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 87 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 1379 not tested
Other
Battery life 370 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $800 $230