Sony DSLR-A290 vs Samsung NX1000

Cameras
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Sony DSLR-A290 vs Samsung NX1000

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APS-C 369.7mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A290 Review.

APS-C 369.7mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Samsung NX1000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NX1000.

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Differences

Sony DSLR-A290 advantages over Samsung NX1000

Lens selection
Good vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$500 vs $700 (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 4.33 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

500 vs 320 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Less shutter lag
0.20 vs 0.60 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Wider angle kit lens
27 mm vs 30 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Bigger JPEG buffer
18 vs 10 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Samsung NX1000 advantages over Sony DSLR-A290

Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
NX1000 test data on DxO Mark DSLR-A290 test data on DxO Mark

840 vs 615 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
37 mm vs 79 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
922k 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
Faster JPEG shooting
8.2 fps vs 2.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
12800 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
Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read NX1000 User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Sony DSLR-A290.
Read our Sony DSLR-A290 Initial Test

We haven’t reviewed the Samsung NX1000.
Read our Samsung NX1000 Initial Test

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

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Nikon D5000

Samsung NX1000

Nikon D5000

$413
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Samsung NX1000 vs Nikon D5000

Compared to Canon T1i

Sony DSLR-A290

Canon T1i

$500
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$900
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Canon T1i

Samsung NX1000

Canon T1i

$413
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$900
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Samsung NX1000 vs Canon T1i

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Sony DSLR-A290

Sony DSLR-A390

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
More viewfinder magnification

$507
APS-C

Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Samsung NX1000

Sony DSLR-A390

$413
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
Higher effective ISO

$507
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Samsung NX1000 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Sony NEX-3N

Sony DSLR-A290

Sony NEX-3N

$500
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$449
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Sony NEX-3N

Samsung NX1000

Sony NEX-3N

$413
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
Higher-res screen

$449
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Samsung NX1000 vs Sony NEX-3N

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony DSLR-A290

Samsung NX1100

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$450
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Samsung NX1100

Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1100

$413
APS-C

$450
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Samsung NX1000 vs Samsung NX1100

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