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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Revealed May 2012
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
  • Newer Model is Sony A290
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony A230, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is fairly close but the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-1 iHS was brought out 3 years later than the A230 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-1 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the TG-1 iHS grades vs the A230 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Sony A230

 TG-1 iHS A230 
IntroducedMay 2012May 2009Fresher by 37 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kClearer display (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 A230 TG-1 iHS 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A230

 TG-1 iHS A230 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-1 iHS has got exterior measurements of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony A230 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-1 iHS against the A230.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and A230 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching technical specs. The visual underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-1 iHS and A230.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-1 iHS because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus TG-1 iHS will render more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent TG-1 iHS is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
27
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
54
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography factors
Sony A230 Street photography factors
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Sports photography with Sony A230
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
great battery power (350 shots)
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10MP)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
68
great battery power (350 CIPA)
environment proof
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A230 as a Landscape photography camera
46
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
great battery power (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Vlogging with Sony A230
36
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
9
no video recording
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony A230
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-05-08 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230g (0.51 pounds) 490g (1.08 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 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 350 pictures 230 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI90B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type - SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $399 $569