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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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-870 vs Sony W290 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was launched 6 years later than the W290 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the TG-870 scores versus the W290 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Sony W290

 TG-870 W290 
LaunchedJanuary 2016February 2009More recent by 84 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus TG-870

 W290 TG-870 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Sony W290

 TG-870 W290 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-870 has external dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-870 vs the W290.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and W290.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus TG-870 to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer TG-870 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Sony W290
36
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography highlights
Sony W290 Street photography highlights
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than others in class (221g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography details
Sony W290 Sports photography details
51
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery power (300 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Sony W290
69
good battery power (300 per charge)
environment proof
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (21mm)
heavier than others in class (221g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography factors
Sony W290 Landscape photography factors
50
really wide (21mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment proof
good battery power (300 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
41
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging factors
Sony W290 Vlogging factors
32
really wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
heavier than others in class (221 grams)
28
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus TG-870 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Sony W290
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-01-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
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
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
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 mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221g (0.49 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" 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 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $280 $230