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Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
29
Overall
33
Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus 8010
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 98 x 64 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2010
  • Other Name is mju Tough 8010
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
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Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus 8010 and Sony A290, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 8010 (13MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very similar but the 8010 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The 8010 was introduced 4 months earlier than the A290 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 8010 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the 8010 grades versus the A290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 8010 over the Sony A290

 8010 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus 8010

 A290 8010 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus 8010 and Sony A290

 8010 A290 
IntroducedFebruary 2010June 2010Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus 8010 provides outside measurements of 98mm x 64mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Look at the Olympus 8010 and Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the 8010 compared to the A290.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the 8010 and A290 is 92 and 66 respectively.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over specs. The photograph here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the 8010 and A290.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 8010 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A290 will deliver greater detail using its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
28
MP count decent (13 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus 8010 Street photography features
Sony A290 Street photography features
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average in class (245 grams)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (13 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 8010
Travel photography with Sony A290
64
environment sealing
MP count decent (13 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (245 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
53
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (290 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
40
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (13MP)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
bad battery life (290 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
27
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (245 grams)
9
no video recording
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Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 8010 and Sony A290
 Olympus Stylus Tough 8010Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Otherwise known as mju Tough 8010 -
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-02-02 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1/4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245g (0.54 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 64 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $600 $600