Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290
71 Imaging
53 Features
85 Overall
65
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
- Revealed October 2013
- Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
- Revealed June 2010
- Old Model is Sony A230
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Overview
Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe E-M1 was manufactured 3 years after the A290 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M1 grades against the A290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A290
E-M1 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | October 2013 | June 2010 | More modern by 42 months | |
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting screen | |
Screen size | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
Screen resolution | 1037k | 230k | Clearer screen (+807k dot) | |
Touch friendly screen | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-M1
A290 | E-M1 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A290
E-M1 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | Dial exact focusing | |||
Selfie screen | Neither contains selfie screen |
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison
If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 has got outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 compared to the A290.
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and A290 is 71 and 66 respectively.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and A290.
Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus E-M1 will show extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A290 Specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 |
Category | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2013-10-28 | 2010-06-09 |
Body design | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | TruePIC VII | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 14MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4592 x 3056 |
Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 81 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Number of lenses | 107 | 143 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of display | 1,037k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.74x | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 10.0 frames/s | 3.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash modes | Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | 1/320s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video format | H.264, Motion JPEG | - |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | 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 | 497 grams (1.10 pounds) | 549 grams (1.21 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | 73 | 66 |
DXO Color Depth score | 23.0 | 22.6 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.7 | 11.5 |
DXO Low light score | 757 | 615 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 350 pictures | 290 pictures |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLN-1 | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Pricing at launch | $799 | $600 |