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Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched November 2007
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-520
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-510 and Sony A290, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and A290 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-510 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the A290 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-510 scores vs the A290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Sony A290

 E-510 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-510

 A290 E-510 
AnnouncedJune 2010November 2007Fresher by 30 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Sony A290

 E-510 A290 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-510 offers exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-510 and Sony A290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-510 compared to the A290.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and A290 is 69 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by looking through specs. The visual below may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and A290.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-510 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A290 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-510
Portrait photography with Sony A290
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
65
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Street photography camera
Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (490g)
screen is fixed
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography info
Sony A290 Sports photography info
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography advice
Sony A290 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition (490g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
53
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (290 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography features
Sony A290 Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
bad battery life (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
9
no video
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Sony A290
 Olympus E-510Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-510 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Alternate name EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2007-11-23 2010-06-09
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 11.5
DXO Low light score 442 615
Other
Battery life - 290 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail price $550 $600