Clicky

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A230
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-PL8 was unveiled 6 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL8 scores against the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony A290

 E-PL8 A290 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016June 2010Fresher by 77 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus E-PL8

 A290 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A290

 E-PL8 A290 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 has exterior measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 and the A290.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and A290 is 86 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specifications. The photograph underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and A290.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL8 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus E-PL8 will show extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography features
Sony A290 Portrait photography features
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
65
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography highlights
Sony A290 Street photography highlights
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography information
Sony A290 Travel photography information
72
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
53
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (290 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
no liveview
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
9
can't record video
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A290
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2010-06-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 615
Other
Battery life 350 photos 290 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $500 $600