Olympus FE-47 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730: A Detailed Comparison for Budget-Conscious Shutterbugs

When you’re shopping in the small sensor compact camera category - especially at entry-level price points - choices like the Olympus FE-47 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 (W730 for short) often come up. These simple, affordable point-and-shoots promise straightforward shooting without breaking the bank, but their feature sets and performance can differ significantly.

Having taken both cameras through their paces in varied real-world shooting conditions - from family portraits to outdoor landscapes, street photography to macro shots - I’m here to help unravel the strengths and tradeoffs so you can find the best fit for your style and budget.

Let’s dive in with a look at their physical designs and user experience.

Compact, But Comfortable? Ergonomics and Handling

Starting with the body and how they feel in the hand: The Olympus FE-47 is a bit chunkier at 98 x 61 x 27 mm and weighs about 204 grams. Its modest heft offers a confident grip for casual shooting but might strain small hands during extended use. The Sony W730 is smaller and lighter - 93 x 52 x 22 mm and 122 grams, making it more pocket-friendly and ideal for those who dislike carrying bulk around.

Neither camera sports a dedicated viewfinder; all framing relies on a shared 2.7-inch fixed LCD. (More on displays soon.) The controls on the Olympus are minimal, with no touchscreen and no illuminated buttons, which may feel old-school but reduces accidental inputs. The Sony, meanwhile, includes a basic touchscreen interface, which enhances interaction but can be finicky given the screen size.

While neither model excels in ruggedness - no weather sealing or shockproofing here - both handle gentle adventures well if you treat them carefully. For everyday grab-and-go use, the Sony W730’s compactness will be far more convenient and less noticeable in your pocket or bag.

Button Layout and Interface: Clubs for Your Thumbs

Looking at the top view and control layout reveals Olympus’ straightforward approach versus Sony’s slightly more feature-oriented cluster. The Olympus opts for simplicity with dedicated mode dials conspicuously absent - everything is auto-focused and auto-exposed, catering to absolute beginners or anyone who just wants to point and shoot without fuss.

Sony W730 adds some further customization and exposure tweaks through a touchscreen overlay but lacks advanced modes like aperture or shutter priority. Neither camera offers manual focus control or RAW image capture, so if tweaking is your jam, look elsewhere. But for budget shooters seeking simplicity, both cameras avoid unnecessary complexity.

Under the Hood: Sensor Specs and Image Quality

We come to one of the most important aspects - the sensor and what image quality to expect. Both cameras feature modest 1/2.3” CCD sensors. The Olympus FE-47 offers 14 megapixels, while the Sony W730 brings slightly higher resolution at 16 megapixels. The difference in sensor area is negligible: 27.72 mm² Olympus vs 28.07 mm² Sony, which means similar light-gathering capabilities.

CCD sensors are older technology, known for good color rendition but weaker high-ISO and low-light performance compared to modern CMOS sensors. Neither camera supports RAW files, relying entirely on JPEG with in-camera processing limiting post-processing flexibility.

The Sony edges out with a higher maximum ISO sensitivity of 3200, doubling Olympus’s limit of 1600 ISO. However, noise becomes apparent in both cameras past ISO 800. Dynamic range is limited in both, so landscapes with bright skies and deep shadows will challenge these sensors.

From my testing, the Olympus FE-47 produces pleasant colors in daylight but falls flat under artificial light with softer image details. The Sony W730 delivers sharper images with slightly better color accuracy, especially indoors - possibly aided by its optical image stabilization. Both handle typical daylight portraits and casual snaps well enough but won’t satisfy prospects who want pixel-peeping or extensive editing latitude.

Display and Live View Experience

Both cameras rely solely on LCD for composition, lacking viewfinders entirely. The 2.7-inch screens share the same resolution: 230k dots. Here, Sony’s TFT LCD display technology with touchscreen support beats Olympus’s plain fixed display. The touchscreen makes zooming, selecting autofocus points, and navigating menus friendlier. That said, the small screen size makes touch targets cramped and not always responsive.

Olympus’s screen is more basic with no touch support but shines with a less reflective coating, enhancing outdoor visibility. Sony’s brighter display helps in shadowed conditions but can struggle in direct sunlight due to glossiness.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

In this budget category, you won't find blazing autofocus systems or DSLR-class speeds. Both cameras only support single-shot autofocus with contrast detection. However, the Sony W730 adds face detection and center-weighted AF mode, helping to get sharp portraits more consistently. Olympus lacks face detection but offers multi-area AF. Neither has phase-detection or hybrid AF systems, which means focusing can occasionally hunt, particularly in low light or macro situations.

Continuous shooting frames per second are limited: Sony manages 1 fps maximum - just enough to capture slow action and spontaneous moments. Olympus doesn’t officially support continuous shooting, so it’s really a one-shot-at-a-time experience.

For wildlife or sports shooters, these constraints limit usability significantly. For casual street photography and family events, either camera manages just fine provided you anticipate and focus carefully.

Zoom Lenses and Macro Capabilities

The Olympus FE-47 offers a 5x optical zoom with an equivalent focal range of 36-180 mm, while the Sony W730 boasts a 9x zoom spanning 25-224 mm. That extra reach can be great for travelers or birdwatchers on a budget - though image quality at the telephoto end is soft in both models.

Maximum aperture ranges are similar and modest: F3.5-5.6 Olympus vs F3.3-6.3 Sony, meaning performance drops in tricky lighting.

Macro-wise, Olympus can focus as close as 3cm, and Sony down to 5cm. I tested close-ups of flowers and small objects: Olympus’s shorter macro distance yields better magnification and detail for tight compositions. However, with no optical image stabilization on Olympus, you might battle camera shake, requiring faster shutter speeds or steady hands. Sony’s stabilization offers steadier handheld shots in macro as well as telephoto ranges.

Flash and Low Light Performance

Olympus FE-47’s built-in flash covers a slightly longer distance (up to 3.8 meters) than Sony’s 2.8 meters. Both provide auto, on, off modes, plus red-eye reduction features; Sony extends with slow sync and advanced flash modes, allowing some creative light painting in evening scenes.

However, neither camera excels in low light due to sensor limitations, slow lenses, and absence of built-in image stabilization on the Olympus. Sony’s optical stabilization helps keep images sharper at slower shutter speeds, an advantage when shooting indoors or at dusk.

Video Capabilities: Don’t Expect a Movie Studio

Neither camera targets videographers. Olympus delivers only VGA 640x480 resolution at 30fps with Motion JPEG compression - that's far below HD. Sony W730, somewhat more modern, offers HD video at 1280x720 at 30fps in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. Still, both lack microphone inputs and manual video controls, limiting creative video work.

If video is a priority, especially for content creators or vloggers, these models will disappoint. But for occasional clips to complement still photography, Sony offers a plausible albeit basic solution.

Battery Life and Storage

Olympus runs on two AA batteries - a convenient choice for travelers who want off-brand or rechargeable AAs on hand. However, battery life data is not provided officially, and in my usage sessions, power drain was noticeable - expect to carry spares.

Sony uses a proprietary NP-BN battery pack rated for approximately 240 shots per charge, which is average for compact digitals and means you need charger access for extended trips.

Storage is flexible: both cameras accept SD/SDHC cards; Sony further supports Memory Stick Duo formats. Neither has dual slots or advanced in-camera storage management.

Connectivity and Extras

Connectivity options are minimal - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, or HDMI ports on either camera. USB 2.0 is available for image transfer in both cases but at snail’s pace by today's standards.

Neither is built for rugged or professional duty - no weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance. They’re basic point-and-shoots aimed at casual users rather than demanding pros.

Image Sample Gallery and Real-World Shootout

I put both cameras through side-by-side shooting missions: portraits, landscapes, street scenes, and macros. Click through the examples to see the differences.

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Sony W730 front Sony W730 screen back

• Portraits: Sony’s face detection yields better-focused eyes and skin tones, producing cleaner results with less softness. Olympus struggles a bit with subject detection, occasionally missing the sharpest focus point.
• Landscapes: Both produce JPEGs with limited dynamic range but decent color saturation in daylight. The Sony’s higher resolution reveals finer details.
• Street photography: Olympus's larger body and slower autofocus slow spontaneous shooting; Sony’s smaller size and touchscreen quicken shooting somewhat, though neither is particularly discreet.
• Macro: Olympus’s 3cm focusing wins here with clearer close-up details, but Sony’s stabilization prevents the blur that hand shake causes on Olympus.

Performance Ratings and Built-In Scores

After extensive testing across aspects like image quality, autofocus speed, build quality, and user experience, here’s how they stack up overall:

• Sony W730 leads in resolution, autofocus features, video, and portability
• Olympus FE-47 holds ground on macro ability, flash range, and AA battery convenience

Specialized Usage Scores: Which shines for each Photography Type?

Genre-specific assessment sheds light on their real-life niches:

Final Thoughts for Budget Buyers: Who Should Buy Which?

If you’re a photography enthusiast or a beginner looking for an ultra-affordable, straightforward compact camera for casual use, both cameras are decent options but serve slightly different needs.

Olympus FE-47:

• Best for: Budget shoppers who want a simple point-and-shoot with respectable macro performance and the convenience of AA batteries - handy when traveling off the grid without charger access.
• Not for: Anyone seeking manual controls, video capabilities, or fast autofocus - it’s firmly a daylight snap-and-go tool.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730:

• Best for: Casual photographers wanting more zoom range, face detection, a touchscreen, and the option to shoot HD video. Its portability appeals to street shooters and travelers who prefer something light and unobtrusive.
• Not for: Those requiring RAW output, advanced video features, or durability. Also less ideal if you dislike proprietary batteries and limited emergency backup options.

In my hands-on experience, the Sony W730 generally outperforms Olympus in versatility, autofocus, and image detail, making it the stronger pick for most casual shooters with some desire for creative control. Olympus aims at the absolute cheapskate or those needing AA battery convenience - a niche but valid proposition.

If you’re on a tight budget, these small sensor compacts can still provide enjoyable photography experiences with minimal fuss. But if your demands rise beyond convenience snapshots into higher-quality images, faster shooting, or video, I’d recommend looking at newer models or entry-level mirrorless systems offering CMOS sensors, RAW support, and advanced autofocus systems.

Still, for what they are, both the FE-47 and Sony W730 deliver straightforward photography for their price points - just know their strengths and limitations before pulling the trigger.

Happy shooting!