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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290

Portability
81
Imaging
62
Features
83
Overall
70
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 383g - 122 x 84 x 49mm
  • Launched August 2020
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M10 III
Sony A290
(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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M10 IV versus Sony A290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-M10 IV (20MP) and A290 (14MP) and the E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M10 IV was introduced 10 years after the A290 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-M10 IV scores versus the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Sony A290

 E-M10 IV A290 
AnnouncedAugust 2020June 2010Newer by 124 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 A290 E-M10 IV 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A290

 E-M10 IV A290 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 IV has got outside dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M10 IV versus Sony A290 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M10 IV and the A290.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 IV and A290 is 81 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing specs. The pic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 IV and A290.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M10 IV with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus E-M10 IV will provide you with extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger E-M10 IV is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Portrait photography advice
Sony A290 Portrait photography advice
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
65
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Sports photography advice
Sony A290 Sports photography advice
72
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Travel photography features
Sony A290 Travel photography features
84
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
53
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (290 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
82
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
missing external microphone port
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A290
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IVSony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2020-08-04 2010-06-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 8.7 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.20 m (at ISO 200) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 383g (0.84 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 615
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 290 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $699 $600