Samsung SL720 vs Sony A290

Below, we are evaluating the Samsung SL720 vs Sony A290, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the SL720 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the SL720 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The SL720 was manufactured 11 months prior to the A290 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Samsung SL720 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the SL720 scores vs the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Samsung SL720 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are viewable at Samsung SL720 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Samsung SL720 has got exterior dimensions of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung SL720 vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SL720 and the A290.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SL720 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Normally, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SL720 and A290.

As you can see, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SL720 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A290 will resolve more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older SL720 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.