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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Updated by Olympus TG-870
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was announced 6 years later than the W290 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the TG-860 matches up versus the W290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Sony W290

 TG-860 W290 
LaunchedFebruary 2015February 2009More recent by 73 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus TG-860

 W290 TG-860 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Sony W290

 TG-860 W290 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-860 enjoys physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the TG-860 against the W290.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out specifications. The visual here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and W290.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can expect to see the Olympus TG-860 to produce extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The younger TG-860 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography advice
Sony W290 Portrait photography advice
36
MP count good (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography features
Sony W290 Sports photography features
49
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
71
weather proofing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography info
Sony W290 Landscape photography info
48
quite wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
weather proofing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
41
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging advice
Sony W290 Vlogging advice
33
quite wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Sony W290
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-02-06 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 gr (0.49 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $279 $230