Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290
96 Imaging
37 Features
26 Overall
32
66 Imaging
54 Features
47 Overall
51
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 1600
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
- 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
- Revealed January 2012
(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
- Launched June 2010
- Superseded the Sony A230
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Overview
Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A290, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty similar but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe VG-160 was announced 20 months later than the A290 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the VG-160 matches up versus the A290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus VG-160 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are available at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony A290
VG-160 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2012 | June 2010 | More recent by 20 months | |
Screen sizing | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus VG-160
A290 | VG-160 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | Very accurate focus |
Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A290
VG-160 | A290 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
Screen resolution | 230k | 230k | Identical screen resolution | |
Selfie screen | Neither offers selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly screen | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 offers outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).
See the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 versus the A290.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and A290 is 96 and 66 respectively.
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The photograph here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and A290.
All in all, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The VG-160 contains the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field harder. The more recent VG-160 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A290 Specifications
Olympus VG-160 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus VG-160 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2012-01-10 | 2010-06-09 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 26-130mm (5.0x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-6.5 | - |
Macro focusing range | 7cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 2.7" |
Screen resolution | 230 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Screen technology | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | - | 3.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 4.80 m | 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 | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video format | Motion JPEG | - |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 125g (0.28 lbs) | 549g (1.21 lbs) |
Dimensions | 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") | 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 66 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 22.6 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.5 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 615 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 165 images | 290 images |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LI-70B | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at release | $90 | $600 |