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Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus 8000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 182g - 95 x 62 x 22mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Also Known as mju Tough 8000
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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Previous Model is Sony A230
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Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus 8000 and Sony A290, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 8000 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly similar but the 8000 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The 8000 was released 11 months before the A290 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 8000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the 8000 matches up vs the A290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 8000 over the Sony A290

 8000 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus 8000

 A290 8000 
LaunchedJune 2010July 2009Newer by 11 months
Manual focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus 8000 and Sony A290

 8000 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display sizing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 8000 provides external dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 8000 and Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the 8000 vs the A290.

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 8000 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specs. The image underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the 8000 and A290.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 8000 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A290 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged 8000 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 8000 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
65
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
no liveview
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus 8000 as a Street photography camera
Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 8000
Sports photography with Sony A290
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 8000 Travel photography details
Sony A290 Travel photography details
61
weather proof
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 8000 Landscape photography features
Sony A290 Landscape photography features
35
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
58
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
bad battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 8000 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
28
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus 8000 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 8000 and Sony A290
 Olympus Stylus Tough 8000Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Also referred to as mju Tough 8000 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-07-01 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
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
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.1 -
Macro focusing distance 2cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 182 gr (0.40 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $380 $600