Olympus 8010 vs Sony A290

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are available at Olympus 8010 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.