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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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
  • Previous Model is Sony A230
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 3 years after the A290 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony A290

 SZ-15 A290 
AnnouncedJune 2013June 2010Newer by 37 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus SZ-15

 A290 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A290

 SZ-15 A290 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 has external dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 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 SZ-15 versus Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the A290.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and A290 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The picture here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and A290.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-15 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus SZ-15 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
65
has manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
Sony A290 Street photography information
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
terrible battery (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Sony A290 Travel photography info
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
53
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (290 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Sony A290
49
manual focus
pretty wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview
terrible battery (290 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A290
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-06-21 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 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 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $200 $600