Clicky

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230

Portability
79
Imaging
37
Features
65
Overall
48
Olympus Stylus 1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus 1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-300mm (F2.8) lens
  • 402g - 116 x 87 x 57mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus 1s
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
  • Released May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A200
  • New Model is Sony A290
Photography Glossary

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus 1 versus Sony A230, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the 1 (1/1.7") and A230 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The 1 was announced 4 years later than the A230 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the 1 grades versus the A230 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 1 over the Sony A230

 1 A230 
ReleasedNovember 2013May 2009Fresher by 56 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus 1

 A230 1 

Common features in the Olympus 1 and Sony A230

 1 A230 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus 1 offers outer dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") and a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Olympus 1 versus Sony A230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 1 and the A230.

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and A230 is 79 and 69 respectively.

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing just by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 and A230.

As you can see, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 1 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Olympus 1 will provide greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher 1 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 1 Portrait photography information
Sony A230 Portrait photography information
48
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 1
Street photography with Sony A230
70
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 1
Sports photography with Sony A230
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery life (410 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (230 per charge)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 1
Travel photography with Sony A230
61
better than average battery life (410 shots)
supports focus via touch
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus 1 Landscape photography factors
Sony A230 Landscape photography factors
49
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (410 per charge)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse function
51
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
32
rather wide (28mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
9
can't shoot video
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus 1 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 1 and Sony A230
 Olympus Stylus 1Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus 1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-11-25 2009-05-18
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-300mm (10.7x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-on, off, redeye reduction slow sync, full, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p); high speed: 640 x 480 (120p), 320 x 240 (240p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 402 gr (0.89 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 87 x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 63
DXO Color Depth score 20.7 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 11.4
DXO Low light score 179 531
Other
Battery life 410 shots 230 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $700 $569