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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced March 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Earlier Model is Sony A230
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A290, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 9 months later than the A290 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-30MR grades against the A290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A290

 SZ-30MR A290 
ReleasedMarch 2011June 2010More recent by 9 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A290 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A290

 SZ-30MR A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR has physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst 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).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-30MR against the A290.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and A290 is 89 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and A290.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-30MR will result in greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher SZ-30MR will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography advice
Sony A290 Portrait photography advice
34
good MP (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography features
Sony A290 Sports photography features
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Sony A290
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
53
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography factors
Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
58
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A290
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
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 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
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 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 220 shots 290 shots
Style 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $279 $600