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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 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
  • Released January 2011
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-610 and Sony W290, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is fairly similar and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-610 was manufactured 23 months later than the W290 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the TG-610 matches up versus the W290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony W290

 TG-610 W290 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011February 2009More recent by 23 months
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus TG-610

 W290 TG-610 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony W290

 TG-610 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-610 features external measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-610 and Sony W290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the TG-610 against the W290.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-610 and W290 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The graphic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-610 and W290.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus TG-610 to offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The fresher TG-610 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-610
Sports photography with Sony W290
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-610
Travel photography with Sony W290
64
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (210 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.9)
57
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Landscape photography factors
Sony W290 Landscape photography factors
43
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
weather sealing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery life (210 shots)
no Timelapse recording
41
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging details
Sony W290 Vlogging details
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony W290
 Olympus TG-610Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-610 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-06 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.20 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 grams (0.42 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $223 $230