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Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290

Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2009
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus FE-45 and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the FE-45 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was brought out within a month of the W290 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the FE-45 grades vs the W290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Sony W290

 FE-45 W290 

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus FE-45

 W290 FE-45 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Sony W290

 FE-45 W290 
LaunchedJanuary 2009February 2009Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-45 comes with outer dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-45 and Sony W290 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the FE-45 compared to the W290.

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-45 and W290 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specs. The photograph here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-45 and W290.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony W290 to offer you extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
19
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low resolution (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Street photography highlights
Sony W290 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
26
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Travel photography factors
Sony W290 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
57
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
26
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
41
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus FE-45
Vlogging with Sony W290
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic jack
28
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
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Olympus FE-45 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Sony W290
 Olympus FE-45Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus FE-45 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-01-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-108mm (3.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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 142 gr (0.31 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $130 $230