Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A290

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony A290, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was released 9 months later than the A290 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL2 matches up versus the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony A290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL2 and the A290.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and A290 is 85 and 66 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specifications. The graphic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and A290.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A290 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher E-PL2 will have an edge in sensor tech.