Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony W290

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony W290, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and W290 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was launched 3 years later than the W290 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL5 scores vs the W290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Sony W290 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 features physical dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the W290.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by researching specs. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and W290.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.