Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony W290

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony W290, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the W290 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and W290 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-1 was released 24 months later than the W290 which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the XZ-1 scores versus the W290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Sony W290 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-1 features outer measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony W290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the XZ-1 and the W290.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The visual below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and W290.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony W290 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The younger XZ-1 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.