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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-410
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-420 versus Sony A290, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and A290 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was introduced 23 months earlier than the A290 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-420 grades vs the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony A290

 E-420 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-420

 A290 E-420 
IntroducedJune 2010June 2008More modern by 23 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony A290

 E-420 A290 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 has exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-420 versus Sony A290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-420 vs the A290.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and A290 is 77 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and A290.

Plainly, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-420 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A290 will deliver greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography features
Sony A290 Portrait photography features
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Sony A290 Street photography details
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography features
Sony A290 Sports photography features
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low battery power (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography information
Sony A290 Travel photography information
52
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Sony A290
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging factors
Sony A290 Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony A290
 Olympus E-420Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-420 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-06-23 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.5
DXO Low light score 527 615
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 290 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $999 $600