Olympus 1 vs Sony A290

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus 1 vs Sony A290, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty close but the 1 (1/1.7") and A290 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The 1 was manufactured 3 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the 1 scores against the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus 1 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus 1 has exterior measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) and the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Olympus 1 vs Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the 1 vs the A290.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 and A290 is 79 and 66 respectively.

Sometimes, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The graphic below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 and A290.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A290 will result in extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent 1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.