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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced February 2011
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Announced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus SZ-10 versus Sony W290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty similar and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was announced 2 years later than the W290 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-10 matches up vs the W290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony W290

 SZ-10 W290 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011February 2009Fresher by 25 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus SZ-10

 W290 SZ-10 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony W290

 SZ-10 W290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-10 has physical dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-10 versus Sony W290 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-10 vs the W290.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and W290 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-10 and W290.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus SZ-10 to offer greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The newer SZ-10 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (215g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography factors
Sony W290 Sports photography factors
40
great zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average in class (215g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (504mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography details
Sony W290 Landscape photography details
40
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
41
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-10
Vlogging with Sony W290
31
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (215g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony W290
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-08 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $300 $230