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Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-620 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus E-620
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 500g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Introduced July 2009
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
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-620 and Sony A290, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-620 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-620 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-620 was introduced 11 months before the A290 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-620 scores versus the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-620 over the Sony A290

 E-620 A290 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-620

 A290 E-620 
IntroducedJune 2010July 2009More modern by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-620 and Sony A290

 E-620 A290 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-620 offers outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Olympus E-620 and Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-620 versus the A290.

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-620 and A290 is 71 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The image below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-620 and A290.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-620 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A290 will resolve extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-620 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-620 Portrait photography advice
Sony A290 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
65
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-620 as a Street photography camera
Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
76
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-620
Sports photography with Sony A290
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (500 shots)
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-620 Travel photography advice
Sony A290 Travel photography advice
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
low battery power (500 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (290 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-620 Landscape photography advice
Sony A290 Landscape photography advice
53
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (500 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
58
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
no liveview
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-620 Vlogging info
Sony A290 Vlogging info
18
lack of video recording
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-620 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-620 and Sony A290
 Olympus E-620Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-620 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-06 2010-06-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 7 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 500 grams (1.10 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.5
DXO Low light score 536 615
Other
Battery life 500 images 290 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $600