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Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290

Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(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
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
  • Launched February 2009
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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").

Photography Glossary

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Sony W290

 550WP W290 

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus 550WP

 W290 550WP 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Sony W290

 550WP W290 
LaunchedJanuary 2009February 2009Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 size comparison

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

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography info
Sony W290 Portrait photography info
19
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
focusing manually
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 550WP
Street photography with Sony W290
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography highlights
Sony W290 Sports photography highlights
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography factors
Sony W290 Travel photography factors
55
environment proofing
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography info
Sony W290 Landscape photography info
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual exposure
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
41
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone support
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone support
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Olympus 550WP vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Sony W290
 Olympus Stylus 550WPSony 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