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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 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
  • Launched October 2019
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Updated by OM System OM-5
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and W290 (12MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and W290 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-M5 III was introduced 10 years later than the W290 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M5 III scores against the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony W290

 E-M5 III W290 
AnnouncedOctober 2019February 2009Fresher by 130 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 W290 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony W290

 E-M5 III W290 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display size

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III offers physical measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony W290 has proportions 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 E-M5 III vs Sony W290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 III versus the W290.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and W290 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 III and W290.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will result in more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography details
Sony W290 Portrait photography details
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
27
focusing manually
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
83
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography details
Sony W290 Sports photography details
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery life (310 shots)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Sony W290 Travel photography factors
77
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (310 per charge)
57
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (310 CIPA)
41
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
84
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone support
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony W290
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2019-10-17 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 414g (0.91 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery life 310 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,199 $230