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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus TG-630 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-630 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 66 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A290, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-630 iHS (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively close but the TG-630 iHS (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-630 iHS was launched 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-630 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the TG-630 iHS matches up versus the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-630 iHS over the Sony A290

 TG-630 iHS A290 
ReleasedJanuary 2013June 2010More recent by 32 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus TG-630 iHS

 A290 TG-630 iHS 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A290

 TG-630 iHS A290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-630 iHS has outer dimensions of 98mm x 66mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A290 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-630 iHS versus the A290.

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-630 iHS and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The visual underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-630 iHS and A290.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-630 iHS because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A290 will render more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer TG-630 iHS will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS Portrait photography info
Sony A290 Portrait photography info
27
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS Street photography advice
Sony A290 Street photography advice
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-630 iHS
Travel photography with Sony A290
59
environment proofing
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery life (220 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
53
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS Landscape photography details
Sony A290 Landscape photography details
39
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-630 iHS Vlogging highlights
Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
33
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-630 iHS and Sony A290
 Olympus TG-630 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-630 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-01-08 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type 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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
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) -
Largest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 167g (0.37 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 66 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") 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 220 shots 290 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $200 $600