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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
49
Features
40
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • Newer Model is Sony A290
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony A230, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and A230 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was released 8 years after the A230 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the A230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony A230

 E-PL9 A230 
LaunchedFebruary 2018May 2009Newer by 107 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus E-PL9

 A230 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A230

 E-PL9 A230 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys outside measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony A230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 against the A230.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and A230 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specifications. The image below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and A230.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent E-PL9 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Sony A230
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
53
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography info
Sony A230 Street photography info
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch to focus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
Sony A230 Sports photography information
69
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
low battery power (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
77
supports bluetooth
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
45
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery power (230 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Sony A230
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
51
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
low battery power (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging advice
Sony A230 Vlogging advice
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A230
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2018-02-08 2009-05-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII 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 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 pounds) 490g (1.08 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 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 350 shots 230 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $599 $569