Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Sony A290

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A290, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-830 iHS (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very close but the TG-830 iHS (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The TG-830 iHS was revealed 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-830 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the TG-830 iHS matches up against the A290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus TG-830 iHS & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-830 iHS Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-830 iHS has outer dimensions of 109mm x 67mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-830 iHS compared to the A290.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-830 iHS and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specs. The graphic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-830 iHS and A290.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-830 iHS using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Olympus TG-830 iHS will render more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The newer TG-830 iHS should have an edge in sensor tech.