Clicky

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Released February 2009
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-PL2 versus 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-PL2 (12MP) and the W290 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and W290 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

The E-PL2 was manufactured 2 years after the W290 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL2 matches up against the W290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony W290

 E-PL2 W290 
ReleasedFebruary 2011February 2009Newer by 25 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus E-PL2

 W290 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony W290

 E-PL2 W290 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 provides outside measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 against the W290.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and W290 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The image here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and W290.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature the identical megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 has the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The younger E-PL2 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Sony W290 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Sony W290 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (280 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
57
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Sony W290 Landscape photography information
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
41
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony W290
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 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 Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $230