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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Successor is Sony A290
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A230, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and A230 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 19 months after the A230 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL1s matches up vs the A230 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sony A230

 E-PL1s A230 
ReleasedNovember 2010May 2009Newer by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 A230 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A230

 E-PL1s A230 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s offers outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1s versus the A230.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and A230 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and A230.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-PL1s will produce extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The fresher E-PL1s should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography info
Sony A230 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
54
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Sony A230 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Sony A230 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (230 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (290 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
45
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography info
Sony A230 Landscape photography info
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging highlights
Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A230
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-11-16 2009-05-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 490 grams (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 230 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $599 $569