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Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P3
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • New Model is Sony A290
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Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus E-P5 versus Sony A230, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and A230 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The E-P5 was launched 4 years later than the A230 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-P5 scores vs the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Sony A230

 E-P5 A230 
ReleasedOctober 2013May 2009More recent by 54 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus E-P5

 A230 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Sony A230

 E-P5 A230 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P5 offers outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P5 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 depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P5 vs the A230.

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P5 and A230 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P5 and A230.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P5 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-P5 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more modern E-P5 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P5
Portrait photography with Sony A230
71
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P5
Street photography with Sony A230
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than others (420g)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P5
Sports photography with Sony A230
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
68
comes with focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than others (420g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
45
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (230 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography advice
Sony A230 Landscape photography advice
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
51
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
33
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone socket
more heavy than others (420 grams)
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Sony A230
 Olympus PEN E-P5Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-10-03 2009-05-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420 grams (0.93 lb) 490 grams (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 63
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 11.4
DXO Low light score 895 531
Other
Battery life 330 shots 230 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $389 $569