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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Key Specs

Olympus VR-330
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus VR-320
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A230
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is very well matched but the VR-330 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The VR-330 was unveiled 9 months later than the A290 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the VR-330 matches up vs the A290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Sony A290

 VR-330 A290 
IntroducedFebruary 2011June 2010Fresher by 9 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Olympus VR-330

 A290 VR-330 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A290

 VR-330 A290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus VR-330 features physical measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the VR-330 versus the A290.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-330 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-330 and A290.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature the identical megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The VR-330 has got the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The newer VR-330 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Portrait photography info
Sony A290 Portrait photography info
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
has manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (158g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-330
Sports photography with Sony A290
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography information
Sony A290 Travel photography information
70
lighter than competitors in class (158 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
53
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (290 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography info
Sony A290 Landscape photography info
42
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
terrible battery (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Vlogging advice
Sony A290 Vlogging advice
32
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (158g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Sony A290
 Olympus VR-330Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VR-330 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-02-08 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III 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 surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 gr (0.35 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical 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 All around 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 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $220 $600