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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-2
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
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Olympus SH-1 and Sony A290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly close but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SH-1 was brought out 3 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SH-1 matches up vs the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Sony A290

 SH-1 A290 
ReleasedMarch 2014June 2010Fresher by 47 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus SH-1

 A290 SH-1 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Sony A290

 SH-1 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-1 offers outer measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-1 and Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SH-1 compared to the A290.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and A290 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The photograph below may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-1 and A290.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SH-1 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus SH-1 will provide you with more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more modern SH-1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Portrait photography details
Sony A290 Portrait photography details
37
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Street photography details
Sony A290 Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus via touch
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low battery pack (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Travel photography information
Sony A290 Travel photography information
74
good battery power (380 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
provides focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
53
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
49
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
good battery power (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
low battery pack (290 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Vlogging info
Sony A290 Vlogging info
37
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone support
lighter than average in class (271g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Sony A290
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SH-1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-03-31 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 photographs 290 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $349 $600