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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 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
  • Revealed March 2011
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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-30MR vs Sony W290 Overview

The following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 2 years after the W290 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-30MR scores against the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony W290

 SZ-30MR W290 
AnnouncedMarch 2011February 2009Newer by 25 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 W290 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony W290

 SZ-30MR W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR comes with exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has sizing 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-30MR versus Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the W290.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and W290 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching technical specs. The image below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and W290.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-30MR to render more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger SZ-30MR is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography details
Sony W290 Portrait photography details
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Sony W290 Sports photography info
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography highlights
Sony W290 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
57
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
41
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
41
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony W290
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-03-02 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $279 $230