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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Released February 2009
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus VG-160 and Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is relatively similar and they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was announced 2 years later than the W290 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the VG-160 scores versus the W290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony W290

 VG-160 W290 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2009Fresher by 36 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Olympus VG-160

 W290 VG-160 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony W290

 VG-160 W290 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 offers external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-160 and Sony W290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 against the W290.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and W290 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing only by going over technical specs. The visual here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and W290.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Olympus VG-160 to offer greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The younger VG-160 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography highlights
Sony W290 Portrait photography highlights
34
MP count good (14MP)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography features
Sony W290 Street photography features
56
lighter than competition (125 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
27
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (165 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
66
lighter than competition (125 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (165 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-160
Landscape photography with Sony W290
37
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery life (165 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
41
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
Vlogging with Sony W290
30
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony W290
 Olympus VG-160Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 7cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $90 $230