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Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
51
Overall
43
Samsung WB850F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Samsung WB850F
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 109 x 62 x 25mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Released February 2009
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Samsung WB850F versus Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the WB850F (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The WB850F was brought out 2 years after the W290 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the WB850F grades vs the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung WB850F over the Sony W290

 WB850F W290 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2009More modern by 36 months
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Samsung WB850F

 W290 WB850F 

Common features in the Samsung WB850F and Sony W290

 WB850F W290 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Samsung WB850F enjoys physical dimensions of 109mm x 62mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Samsung WB850F versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the WB850F compared to the W290.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the WB850F and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the WB850F and W290.

As you can see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Samsung WB850F to render extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent WB850F will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung WB850F Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
43
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Samsung WB850F Sports photography advice
Sony W290 Sports photography advice
52
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung WB850F Travel photography factors
Sony W290 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competition in class (250g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
57
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung WB850F Landscape photography information
Sony W290 Landscape photography information
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
41
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung WB850F Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no external mic jack
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung WB850F and Sony W290
 Samsung WB850FSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung WB850F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-09 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 62 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") 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 ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $599 $230