• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 28.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
  • Samsung NX500
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Samsung NX300
NX300 vs NX500
Successor:    
General
Model Number: DSLR-A290 NX500
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $499.99 $799.99
Street Price:   $1,599.99
Date Available: 2010-07-15 2015-03-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 17.9 oz (508 g)
includes batteries
16.0 oz (454 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 in.
(128 x 97 x 80 mm)
4.7 x 2.5 x 1.7 in.
(120 x 64 x 43 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Samsung
Effective Megapixels: 14.2 28.2
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.16 microns 3.63 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 66 87
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 22.6 24.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.5 13.9
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 615 1,379
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4592 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4592 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3408 x 2272 (7.7 MP, 3:2),
3408 x 1920 (6.5 MP, 16:9),
2288 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
2288 x 1280 (2.9 MP, Other)
6480 x 4320 (28.0 MP, 3:2),
4560 x 3040 (13.9 MP, 3:2),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
2112 x 1408 (3.0 MP, 3:2),
6480 x 3648 (23.6 MP, 16:9),
4608 x 2592 (11.9 MP, 16:9),
3328 x 1872 (6.2 MP, 16:9),
2048 x 1152 (2.4 MP, 16:9),
4320 x 4320 (18.7 MP, 1:1),
3088 x 3088 (9.5 MP, 1:1),
2160 x 2160 (4.7 MP, 1:1),
1408 x 1408 (2.0 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW JPEG, MPO, RAW (SRW), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 2.4 8.8
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 4096x2160 (24p)
3840x2160 (30p)
1920x1080 (60p/​30p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (60p/​30p)
1920x1080 (120p)
1280x720 (120p)
640x480 (120p)
Movie File Format:   MP4 (Video: HEVC (H.265) / Sound: AAC)
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Samsung NX
Lens: Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM Samsung 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS NX
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm 24 - 75mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 16 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x 3.13x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - 36 (T) f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   24 cm to Infinity
9.4 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 55.0mm 43.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection (one cross-type sensor) with eye-start AF Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF: 205-point PDAF (153 cross-point type) + 209-point CDAF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) No / OLED
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.83x mag., 16.5mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.0 diopter  
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.55x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.83x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.7 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,400 dots 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x  
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Auto, 100 - 25600 in 1 or 1/3 EV steps, expandable to 51200
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent (W, N, D), Tungsten, Auto+Tungsten, Flash, Custom, K (Manual); Micro Adjustment each 7 steps in Amber/Blue and Green/Magenta axes
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/6000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment honeycomb pattern, center-weighted, spot Multi (221 segments), Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait/Night View Beauty Face, Landscape, Action Freeze, Rich Tones, Panorama, Waterfall, Silhouette, Sunset, Night, Fireworks, Light Trace, Multi-Exposure; Smart Range+, HDR, Samsung Auto Shot (SAS)
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2-30 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off Smart Flash, Auto, Auto+Red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Fill-in+Red-eye reduction, 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain, Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 8.0 m / 26.2 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Bundled SEF8A flash has GN 8m at ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe Hot shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW RAW (SRW), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:   MP4 (Video: HEVC (H.265) / Sound: AAC)
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes No
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wireless Via Wi-Fi live view or Bluetooth; optional wired USB cable release
Connections (extended): DC input, min-HDMI Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) with NFC; Bluetooth; Mult-function USB port compatible with wired remote
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.50 0.83
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.46  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 5  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.81
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 2.4 8.8
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 18 38
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   8.5
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   6
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   8.6
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   6
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.20 seconds 0.20 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.182 seconds 0.097 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.22 seconds 0.36 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.107 seconds 0.076 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full AF lag, Auto Area = 0.200s  
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 1.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.4 seconds 0.8 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:   3.1 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   370 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 500 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-FH50 Proprietary BP-1130
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable 1130mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FH50 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary BP-1130 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: No
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: Software/USB Driver CD-ROM Samsung Raw Converter, i-Launcher (web version), Power Media Player, Samsung Movie Converter and Samsung DNG Converter
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X (v. 10.4+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Available in black, brown and white.