Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A290

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony A290, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TG-1 iHS was introduced 24 months later than the A290 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the TG-1 iHS matches up against the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-1 iHS Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-1 iHS enjoys physical dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony A290 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the TG-1 iHS compared to the A290.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by checking out specs. The graphic here might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-1 iHS and A290.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-1 iHS with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony A290 will show extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger TG-1 iHS should have an advantage in sensor innovation.