Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly close but the TG-860 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TG-860 was announced 4 years after the A290 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the TG-860 scores versus the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-860 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-860 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-860 compared to the A290.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the TG-860 and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The image underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and A290.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-860 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Olympus TG-860 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern TG-860 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.