Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A290

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony A290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was released 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 versus the A290.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and A290 is 88 and 66 respectively.

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching specifications. The visual below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and A290.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PL5 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher E-PL5 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.