• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Sony DSLR-A290 advantages over Samsung NX300

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $500 vs $800 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.16 vs 4.29 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 500 vs 320 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Samsung NX300 advantages over Sony DSLR-A290

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Higher effective ISO
    942 vs 615 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.7 vs 11.5 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    40 mm vs 79 mm
    Thinner
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    768k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    20.3 vs 14.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.1 fps vs 2.4 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Review Excerpt

  • Stylish "retro modern" design in two color schemes; attractive 3.3-inch AMOLED tilting touchscreen; new APS-C CMOS sensor with on-chip phase detection AF; better image quality, particularly in low light at high ISOs; faster all-around performance; improved Wi-Fi connectivity.

  • Camera feels more plasticky than expected when you pick it up; slower shot-to-speeds compared to rivals; poor buffer depth with raw files; aggressive anti-noise processing destroys detail in high ISO shots; display smudges easily and is rather dim; no EVF support.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A290
Nikon D5000
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tiltable Screen
Samsung NX300
Nikon D5000
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Canon T1i

Sony DSLR-A290
Canon T1i
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
Samsung NX300
Canon T1i
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Sony DSLR-A290
Sony DSLR-A390
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • More viewfinder magnification
  • $507
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
Samsung NX300
Sony DSLR-A390
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $507
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Sony NEX-7

Sony DSLR-A290
Sony NEX-7
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1248
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
Samsung NX300
Sony NEX-7
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $1248
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2

Sony DSLR-A290
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1059
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
Samsung NX300
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $1059
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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