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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very close but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-870 was launched 5 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the TG-870 grades against the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony A290

 TG-870 A290 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016June 2010More recent by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus TG-870

 A290 TG-870 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony A290

 TG-870 A290 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-870 offers physical measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-870 compared to the A290.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The visual underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and A290.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-870 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus TG-870 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger TG-870 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography highlights
Sony A290 Street photography highlights
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition (221 grams)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
Sony A290 Sports photography features
51
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery pack (300 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
Sony A290 Travel photography highlights
69
good battery pack (300 per charge)
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
Landscape photography with Sony A290
50
really wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery pack (300 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging features
Sony A290 Vlogging features
32
really wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition (221 grams)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony A290
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2016-01-06 2010-06-09
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221g (0.49 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 290 photographs
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $280 $600