Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290
94 Imaging
32 Features
17 Overall
26


94 Imaging
34 Features
28 Overall
31
Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 64 - 1600
- Digital Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
- 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
- Announced January 2009
- Other Name is mju 550WP
(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
- Launched February 2009

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Overview
Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus 550WP and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is fairly close and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The 550WP was unveiled around the same time to the W290 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the 550WP matches up versus the W290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Sony W290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Sony W290
550WP | W290 |
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Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus 550WP
W290 | 550WP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Sony W290
550WP | W290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2009 | ![]() | February 2009 | Same generation |
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Equal display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch display |
Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison
For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus 550WP comes with outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).
Check out the Olympus 550WP and Sony W290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the 550WP vs the W290.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and W290 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by researching specifications. The graphic underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and W290.
Plainly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony W290 to result in more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Specifications
Olympus Stylus 550WP | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus Stylus 550WP | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 |
Also called | mju 550WP | - |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
Announced | 2009-01-07 | 2009-02-17 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 12MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4000 x 3000 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 64 | 80 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 38-114mm (3.0x) | 28-140mm (5.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/3.5-5.0 | f/3.3-5.2 |
Macro focusing range | 7cm | 10cm |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 2.5 inch | 3 inch |
Display resolution | 230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 2 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1000 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | - | 2.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | - | 3.90 m |
Flash options | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 640x480 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4 |
Microphone 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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 167 gr (0.37 lbs) | 167 gr (0.37 lbs) |
Dimensions | 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") | 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Self timer | Yes (12 seconds) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at launch | $399 | $230 |