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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-2
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
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the SH-1 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SH-1 was manufactured 5 years after the W290 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SH-1 matches up versus the W290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Sony W290

 SH-1 W290 
LaunchedMarch 2014February 2009More modern by 63 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus SH-1

 W290 SH-1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Sony W290

 SH-1 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 comes with exterior 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) and the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-1 against the W290.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The image here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and W290.

All in all, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus SH-1 to provide extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The newer SH-1 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-1
Portrait photography with Sony W290
37
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
focusing manually
no manual control
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Street photography highlights
Sony W290 Street photography highlights
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports focus via touch
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Sports photography details
Sony W290 Sports photography details
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competitors (271g)
supports focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
57
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
49
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
great battery power (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
41
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Vlogging features
Sony W290 Vlogging features
37
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
lighter than competitors (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Sony W290
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SH-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-03-31 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
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)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $349 $230