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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290

Portability
90 Imaging
40 Features
51 Overall
44
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51

Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus TG-4 and Sony A290, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-4 was released 4 years after the A290 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the TG-4 matches up against the A290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Sony A290

		

		

			
 TG-4 A290 
AnnouncedApril 2015June 2010Newer by 59 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus TG-4

		

		

			
 A290 TG-4 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Sony A290

		

		

			
 TG-4 A290 
Manually focus  More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen  Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen  Lacking Touch friendly screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-4 has physical measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).
See the Olympus TG-4 and Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-4 vs the A290.
Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 size comparison
Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and A290 is 90 and 66 respectively.
Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Generally, it is tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-4 and A290.
As you can see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-4 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus TG-4 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger TG-4 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.
	
			Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography features
Sony A290 Portrait photography features
46
 you can focus manually
 good  resolution (16 megapixels)
 supports face detection autofocus
 delivers RAW formats
 no manual exposure
 cannot use external flash
 small sensor (1/2.3")
65
 has manual focus
 resolution is good (14 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (APS-C)
 provides face detection focusing
 exports RAW files
 no liveview feature
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Street Comparison
 Olympus TG-4 as a Street photography camera
 Sony A290 as a Street photography camera
65
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 delivers RAW formats
 environment proofing
 fixed screen
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 heavier than competition (247g)
66
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is nice (APS-C)
 exports RAW files
 fixed screen
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus TG-4
Sports photography with Sony A290
47
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good  resolution (16 megapixels)
 supports tracking autofocus
 environment proofing
 good battery life (380 shots)
 low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
 no shutter priority mode
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 has no phase detect autofocus
55
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 resolution is good (14 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (APS-C)
 has phase detect AF
 no liveview feature
 max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
 low battery power (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Sony A290
74
 good battery life (380 shots)
 environment proofing
 good  resolution (16 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 relatively wide (25mm)
 fast max aperture (f2.0)
 heavier than competition (247 grams)
 does not offer selfie friendly display
53
 resolution is good (14 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 does not have Timelapse mode
 low battery power (290 shots)
 display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography factors
Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
62
 you can focus manually
 relatively wide (25mm)
 fast max aperture (f2.0)
 screen is a good size (3")
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good  resolution (16MP)
 delivers RAW formats
 environment proofing
 good battery life (380 per charge)
 can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
 no manual exposure
 small sensor (1/2.3")
58
 has manual focus
 switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based)
 resolution is good (14 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (APS-C)
 exports RAW files
 screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
 no liveview feature
 low battery power (290 CIPA)
 does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus TG-4 Vlogging factors
Sony A290 Vlogging factors
34
 relatively wide (25mm)
 fast max aperture (f2.0)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 supports face detection autofocus
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 does not offer selfie friendly display
 lack of external mic socket
 heavier than competition (247 grams)
9
 no video shooting
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Olympus TG-4 vs Sony A290 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Sony A290
 Olympus Tough TG-4Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-04-13 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 3:2 and  16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
AF live view    
Face detect AF    
Contract detect AF    
Phase detect AF    
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch operation    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual mode    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support    
Headphone support    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 247g (0.54 lb) 549g (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 380 photographs 290 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording    
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $379 $600