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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and W290 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was launched 22 months after the W290 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-PL1s scores versus the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sony W290

 E-PL1s W290 
RevealedNovember 2010February 2009More modern by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 W290 E-PL1s 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony W290

 E-PL1s W290 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s has outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1s versus the W290.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and W290 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and W290.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s contains the larger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern E-PL1s provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography details
Sony W290 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Sony W290 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Sony W290 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
52
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
57
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
Sony W290 Landscape photography factors
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
41
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging advice
Sony W290 Vlogging advice
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
28
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Sony W290
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-11-16 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $230