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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 190g - 96 x 65 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2011
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus TG-610 versus Sony A290, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty close but the TG-610 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-610 was revealed 8 months later than the A290 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-610 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the TG-610 matches up against the A290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony A290

 TG-610 A290 
IntroducedJanuary 2011June 2010More recent by 8 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus TG-610

 A290 TG-610 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony A290

 TG-610 A290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-610 provides outside measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-610 versus Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-610 compared to the A290.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-610 and A290 is 93 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The graphic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-610 and A290.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got the exact same MP albeit different sensor measurements. The TG-610 features the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower DOF tougher. The more recent TG-610 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-610
Portrait photography with Sony A290
33
MP count good (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography information
Sony A290 Street photography information
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (210 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-610 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
64
environment proofing
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery (210 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
53
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (290 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Landscape photography information
Sony A290 Landscape photography information
43
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
environment proofing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (210 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview
not so great battery (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging details
Sony A290 Vlogging details
30
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony A290
 Olympus TG-610Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-610 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-01-06 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD 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 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
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
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.20 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190g (0.42 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 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 210 photographs 290 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $223 $600