Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A290

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was introduced 18 months later than the A290 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PM1 matches up against the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM1 vs the A290.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and A290 is 89 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing specs. The visual underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and A290.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A290 will result in greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher E-PM1 should have an edge in sensor tech.