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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PM1
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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony A230, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and A230 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 4 years after the A230 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PM2 grades vs the A230 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony A230

 E-PM2 A230 
IntroducedMay 2013May 2009Newer by 49 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus E-PM2

 A230 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony A230

 E-PM2 A230 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony A230 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony A230 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PM2 and the A230.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and A230 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and A230.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography advice
Sony A230 Portrait photography advice
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography factors
Sony A230 Street photography factors
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A230 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Sony A230
66
offers focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
45
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography features
Sony A230 Landscape photography features
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
51
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Sony A230 Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
9
no video
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony A230
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-05-21 2009-05-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 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 Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 490 gr (1.08 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 63
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 11.4
DXO Low light rating 932 531
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 230 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $448 $569