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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A290, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and A290 (14MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The E-M5 III was launched 9 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M5 III matches up against the A290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony A290

 E-M5 III A290 
ReleasedOctober 2019June 2010Fresher by 114 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 A290 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A290

 E-M5 III A290 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III provides outer dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 III and the A290.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and A290 is 80 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and A290.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus E-M5 III will render extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 III provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Sony A290
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
65
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
83
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (30.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (310 shots)
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography details
Sony A290 Travel photography details
77
environment sealing
has bluetooth
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
53
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery (290 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography factors
Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
bad battery (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging factors
Sony A290 Vlogging factors
84
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone port
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A290
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2019-10-17 2010-06-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 gr (0.91 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 310 photos 290 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,199 $600