Clicky

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A290, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very close but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The SZ-11 was manufactured 14 months later than the A290 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-11 grades versus the A290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony A290

 SZ-11 A290 
LaunchedJuly 2011June 2010More recent by 14 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus SZ-11

 A290 SZ-11 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A290

 SZ-11 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-11 offers exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-11 compared to the A290.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and A290 is 89 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-11 and A290.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-11 comes with the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field trickier. The more recent SZ-11 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-11
Sports photography with Sony A290
43
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
no phase detect AF
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography features
Sony A290 Travel photography features
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
53
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-11
Landscape photography with Sony A290
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging highlights
Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than others (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
9
no video shooting
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A290
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-27 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 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 200 photographs 290 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $253 $600