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Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-810 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-810
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 215g - 100 x 65 x 26mm
  • Revealed August 2011
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
  • Earlier Model is Sony A230
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Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-810 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the TG-810 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The TG-810 was revealed 15 months later than the A290 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-810 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the TG-810 scores versus the A290 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-810 over the Sony A290

 TG-810 A290 
AnnouncedAugust 2011June 2010More recent by 15 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus TG-810

 A290 TG-810 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-810 and Sony A290

 TG-810 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus TG-810 comes with outer dimensions of 100mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the TG-810 and the A290.

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-810 and A290 is 92 and 66 respectively.

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-810 and A290.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have the same megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The TG-810 contains the smaller sensor which should make getting bokeh more difficult. The more recent TG-810 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Portrait photography information
Sony A290 Portrait photography information
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
has manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Street photography highlights
Sony A290 Street photography highlights
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-810 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect AF
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Travel photography advice
Sony A290 Travel photography advice
64
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
53
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-810 Landscape photography info
Sony A290 Landscape photography info
43
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
doesn't have liveview
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-810 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
9
no video recording
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Olympus TG-810 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-810 and Sony A290
 Olympus TG-810Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus TG-810 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-08-16 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 measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215g (0.47 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 65 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 1.0") 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 photos 290 photos
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 Single Single
Price at release $428 $600