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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A230, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-16 iHS was launched 3 years later than the A230 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up versus the A230 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A230

 SZ-16 iHS A230 
IntroducedJanuary 2013May 2009Fresher by 45 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A230 SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A230

 SZ-16 iHS A230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS provides physical dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A230 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the A230.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and A230 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading technical specs. The visual here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and A230.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-16 iHS because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The newer SZ-16 iHS will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony A230 Portrait photography advice
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony A230 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Sony A230
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A230
41
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
51
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging highlights
Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
9
can't record video
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A230
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-01-08 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
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), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 490g (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 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, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $230 $569