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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched March 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus SH-3
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
  • Replaced the Sony A200
  • Updated by Sony A290
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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus SH-2 and Sony A230, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SH-2 was introduced 5 years after the A230 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the SH-2 scores versus the A230 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Sony A230

 SH-2 A230 
IntroducedMarch 2015May 2009More modern by 71 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus SH-2

 A230 SH-2 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Sony A230

 SH-2 A230 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-2 comes with outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-2 and Sony A230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SH-2 against the A230.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and A230 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The image below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and A230.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SH-2 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus SH-2 will render greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent SH-2 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
44
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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

Street photography with Olympus SH-2
Street photography with Sony A230
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
lighter than competition (271g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography advice
Sony A230 Sports photography advice
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
45
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A230 Landscape photography highlights
55
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
35
really wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (271g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Sony A230
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-03-11 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-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 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
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
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
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 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lb) 490 grams (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 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 380 photos 230 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $399 $569