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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Newer Model is Olympus VR-330
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A230
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A290, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the VR-320 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The VR-320 was brought out 14 months after the A290 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the VR-320 matches up against the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Sony A290

 VR-320 A290 
RevealedJuly 2011June 2010More modern by 14 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus VR-320

 A290 VR-320 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A290

 VR-320 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus VR-320 offers outside dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A290 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the VR-320 against the A290.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-320 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The pic below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-320 and A290.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor sizes. The VR-320 provides the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult. The younger VR-320 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Portrait photography info
Sony A290 Portrait photography info
33
good megapixels (14MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Street photography highlights
Sony A290 Street photography highlights
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (158 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
47
great zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Travel photography details
Sony A290 Travel photography details
70
lighter than others (158g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
53
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Landscape photography features
Sony A290 Landscape photography features
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Vlogging highlights
Sony A290 Vlogging highlights
32
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than others (158 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Sony A290
 Olympus VR-320Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VR-320 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-07-19 2010-06-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 158 gr (0.35 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 - 290 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $179 $600