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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A230, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-10 (14MP) and A230 (10MP) and the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-10 was announced 22 months after the A230 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the SZ-10 matches up vs the A230 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony A230

 SZ-10 A230 
IntroducedFebruary 2011May 2009More modern by 22 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus SZ-10

 A230 SZ-10 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A230

 SZ-10 A230 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-10 enjoys external measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A230 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-10 compared to the A230.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and A230 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing specs. The image below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-10 and A230.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-10 using its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus SZ-10 will render extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger SZ-10 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-10
Portrait photography with Sony A230
33
good MP (14MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Sony A230
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (215g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography features
Sony A230 Sports photography features
40
excellent zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Sony A230
65
lighter than competition (215 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
45
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography details
Sony A230 Landscape photography details
40
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
no Timelapse function
51
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-10
Vlogging with Sony A230
31
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competition (215g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A230
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-08 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lb) 490g (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" 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 220 pictures 230 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $300 $569