Olympus E-520 vs Sony A290

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-520 vs Sony A290, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and A290 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The E-520 was announced 21 months prior to the A290 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-520 grades versus the A290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-520 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Sony A290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-520 against the A290.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and A290 is 68 and 66 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching specifications. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and A290.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A290 will result in extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.