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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched February 2011
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A390, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the A390 (14MP) is very close but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-10 was unveiled 7 months after the A390 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ-10 grades versus the A390 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony A390

 SZ-10 A390 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2010Newer by 7 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus SZ-10

 A390 SZ-10 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A390

 SZ-10 A390 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 offers exterior measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony A390 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A390 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-10 compared to the A390.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and A390 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-10 and A390.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide the same megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The SZ-10 has the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging. The younger SZ-10 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-10
Portrait photography with Sony A390
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography details
Sony A390 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography features
Sony A390 Sports photography features
40
great zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography information
Sony A390 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
great reach (504mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
53
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
Landscape photography with Sony A390
40
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
not so great battery life (230 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A390
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-02-08 2010-07-28
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 gr (0.47 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 230 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $300 $500