Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290
91 Imaging
40 Features
42 Overall
40
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66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 125 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
- 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
- Revealed February 2015
- Later Model is Olympus TG-870
(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
- Revealed June 2010
- Previous Model is Sony A230
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Overview
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.
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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.
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Gallery
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.
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony A290
TG-860 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | February 2015 | ![]() | June 2010 | Newer by 57 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus TG-860
A290 | TG-860 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus |
Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony A290
TG-860 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither provides Touch friendly display |
Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison
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.
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Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the TG-860 and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison
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.
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony A290 Specifications
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 |
Category | Waterproof | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2015-02-06 | 2010-06-09 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | TruePic VII | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 125 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Number of focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 21-105mm (5.0x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.5-5.7 | - |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | - |
Total lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 460k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 7.0 frames/s | 3.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) | 10.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) | - |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video file format | H.264 | - |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Yes | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 224 gr (0.49 lbs) | 549 gr (1.21 lbs) |
Dimensions | 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") | 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 | 300 shots | 290 shots |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | Li-50B | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | $279 | $600 |