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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched March 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-3
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SH-2 and Sony W290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was unveiled 6 years later than the W290 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SH-2 scores versus the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Sony W290

 SH-2 W290 
IntroducedMarch 2015February 2009Fresher by 74 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus SH-2

 W290 SH-2 
Focus manually More precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Sony W290

 SH-2 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-2 enjoys external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 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).

See the Olympus SH-2 and Sony W290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-2 vs the W290.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and W290.

As you have seen, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus SH-2 to offer you extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer SH-2 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography information
Sony W290 Portrait photography information
44
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography details
Sony W290 Street photography details
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
provides focus by touch
lighter than competitors (271g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography information
Sony W290 Sports photography information
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
good battery (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
74
good battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (271g)
provides focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-2
Landscape photography with Sony W290
54
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
saves RAW formats
good battery (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
41
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging information
Sony W290 Vlogging information
34
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (271g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Sony W290
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-03-11 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount 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
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
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 All around 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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $399 $230