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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290

Portability
86
Imaging
46
Features
42
Overall
44
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-P1 and Sony W290, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and W290 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-P1 was brought out 6 months after the W290 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-P1 scores versus the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony W290

 E-P1 W290 

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus E-P1

 W290 E-P1 

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony W290

 E-P1 W290 
AnnouncedJuly 2009February 2009Same generation
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 enjoys outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 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 differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 versus the W290.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and W290 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and W290.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-P1 contains the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF easier.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
Sony W290 Portrait photography information
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
Sony W290 Sports photography advice
39
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Sony W290
43
no Timelapse function
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
57
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W290 Landscape photography highlights
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
no Timelapse function
41
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
28
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony W290
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-07-29 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $182 $230