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Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus E-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2003
  • Successor is Olympus E-3
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-1 versus Sony W230, one is a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and W230 (12MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and W230 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-1 was released 6 years before the W230 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-1 scores against the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Sony W230

 E-1 W230 

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Olympus E-1

 W230 E-1 
IntroducedFebruary 2009November 2003Newer by 63 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution230k134kSharper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Sony W230

 E-1 W230 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-1 has got external measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 versus Sony W230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-1 versus the W230.

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-1 and W230 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The picture underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and W230.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Sony W230 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Sony W230
46
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography info
Sony W230 Street photography info
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
lighter than average in class (735 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Sony W230
39
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5MP)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography advice
Sony W230 Travel photography advice
47
lighter than average in class (735 grams)
weather sealing
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (5MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W230 Landscape photography highlights
45
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
tiny screen (1.8 inch)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
36
has manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-1
Vlogging with Sony W230
9
can't shoot video
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Sony W230
 Olympus E-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Pro DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2003-11-29 2009-02-17
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 2560 x 1920 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 134k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lb) 156 grams (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $1,700 $180