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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is mju Tough 3000
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
Photography Glossary

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Sony A290, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty similar but the Tough-3000 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The Tough-3000 was brought out 5 months earlier than the A290 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief view of how the Tough-3000 grades versus the A290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Sony A290

 Tough-3000 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 A290 Tough-3000 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus Tough-3000 and Sony A290

 Tough-3000 A290 
IntroducedJanuary 2010June 2010Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen size
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus Tough-3000 enjoys physical dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Sony A290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the Tough-3000 and the A290.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the Tough-3000 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The graphic below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the Tough-3000 and A290.

All in all, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The Tough-3000 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A290 will offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Portrait photography features
Sony A290 Portrait photography features
21
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Street photography advice
Sony A290 Street photography advice
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography details
Sony A290 Sports photography details
36
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus Tough-3000
Travel photography with Sony A290
61
weather proofing
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
53
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (290 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
35
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7")
no liveview feature
not so great battery (290 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Vlogging information
Sony A290 Vlogging information
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus Tough-3000 and Sony A290
 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Alternative name mju Tough 3000 -
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-07 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.1 -
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format MPEG-4 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 159 grams (0.35 lb) 549 grams (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 290 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $0 $600