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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the A230 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and A230 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was brought out 10 months earlier than the A230 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-420 scores against the A230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony A230

 E-420 A230 

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus E-420

 A230 E-420 
AnnouncedMay 2009June 2008Newer by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony A230

 E-420 A230 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 has got physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 vs the A230.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and A230 is 77 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and A230.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-420 provides the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult. The more aged E-420 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Sony A230
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (10MP)
54
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography features
Sony A230 Street photography features
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
Sony A230 Sports photography highlights
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors in class (426g)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
45
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A230 Landscape photography highlights
47
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 shots)
no Timelapse mode
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Sony A230 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony A230
 Olympus E-420Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-420 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-06-23 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
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 426 grams (0.94 lbs) 490 grams (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 63
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.4
DXO Low light rating 527 531
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 230 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $999 $569