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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Other Name is X-935
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
  • Released May 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • Replacement is Sony A290
Photography Glossary

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus FE-5020 versus Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the FE-5020 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is pretty close but the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The FE-5020 was manufactured 3 months after the A230 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FE-5020 matches up against the A230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Sony A230

 FE-5020 A230 

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus FE-5020

 A230 FE-5020 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony A230

 FE-5020 A230 
ReleasedJuly 2009May 2009Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus FE-5020 offers outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check the Olympus FE-5020 versus Sony A230 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the FE-5020 versus the A230.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5020 and A230 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by researching technical specs. The image below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-5020 and A230.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FE-5020 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus FE-5020 will render greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Portrait photography factors
Sony A230 Portrait photography factors
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Street photography information
Sony A230 Street photography information
60
environment proofing
lighter than competition in class (137g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-5020
Sports photography with Sony A230
24
environment proofing
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus FE-5020
Travel photography with Sony A230
65
lighter than competition in class (137g)
environment proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (230 shots)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography info
Sony A230 Landscape photography info
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
51
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
does not have liveview
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus FE-5020
Vlogging with Sony A230
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
lighter than competition in class (137 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Sony A230
 Olympus FE-5020Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus FE-5020 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Otherwise known as X-935 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-22 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 137 gr (0.30 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 63
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 230 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $160 $569