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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
25
Overall
31

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-2
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SH-3 and Sony W230, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was unveiled 7 years after the W230 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SH-3 scores versus the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Sony W230

 SH-3 W230 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016February 2009More modern by 85 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Olympus SH-3

 W230 SH-3 
Manual focus More precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Sony W230

 SH-3 W230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 offers exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Sony W230 has specifications of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-3 and Sony W230 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SH-3 against the W230.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and W230 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and W230.

As you can see, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus SH-3 to provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer SH-3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography info
Sony W230 Portrait photography info
44
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
27
focusing manually
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography details
Sony W230 Street photography details
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
features touch focus
lighter than average (271g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography information
Sony W230 Sports photography information
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography factors
Sony W230 Travel photography factors
74
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than average (271g)
features touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W230 Landscape photography highlights
55
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
37
focusing manually
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
35
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than average (271 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone port
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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Sony W230
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-02-08 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 156 gr (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $579 $180