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Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Samsung TL100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Samsung TL100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-105mm (F3.0-5.6) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Additionally referred to as ST50
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
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Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Samsung TL100 versus Sony A290, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the TL100 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly similar but the TL100 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The TL100 was manufactured 17 months before the A290 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Samsung TL100 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the TL100 scores against the A290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung TL100 over the Sony A290

 TL100 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Samsung TL100

 A290 TL100 
LaunchedJune 2010January 2009More modern by 17 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Samsung TL100 and Sony A290

 TL100 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Samsung TL100 comes with outside measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Samsung TL100 versus Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the TL100 against the A290.

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the TL100 and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TL100 and A290.

As you can see, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TL100 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A290 will offer you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged TL100 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung TL100
Portrait photography with Sony A290
26
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung TL100 Street photography advice
Sony A290 Street photography advice
53
built in image stabilization (Digital)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competition (219g)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Samsung TL100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
34
built in image stabilization (Digital)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung TL100 Travel photography factors
Sony A290 Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (219 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung TL100 Landscape photography advice
Sony A290 Landscape photography advice
27
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview
not so great battery power (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung TL100 Vlogging features
Sony A290 Vlogging features
26
built in image stabilization (Digital)
includes face detect autofocus
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (219g)
9
can't record video
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Samsung TL100 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung TL100 and Sony A290
 Samsung TL100Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung TL100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Also Known as ST50 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-08 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-105mm (3.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 800 x 592 (20 fps) , 640 x 480 (30,15 fps) , 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 219g (0.48 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $22 $600