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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Announced May 2012
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony W230, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the W230 (12MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-1 iHS was released 3 years later than the W230 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the TG-1 iHS matches up versus the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-1 iHS over the Sony W230

 TG-1 iHS W230 
IntroducedMay 2012February 2009Fresher by 40 months
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Olympus TG-1 iHS

 W230 TG-1 iHS 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony W230

 TG-1 iHS W230 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-1 iHS comes with outside measurements of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-1 iHS versus Sony W230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-1 iHS versus the W230.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-1 iHS and W230 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading specs. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-1 iHS and W230.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical resolution so you can expect similar quality of photographs though you should factor the age of the products into consideration. The younger TG-1 iHS provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W230 as a Portrait photography camera
27
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
focusing manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Street photography advice
Sony W230 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Sports photography with Sony W230
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (350 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography advice
Sony W230 Travel photography advice
68
good battery life (350 CIPA)
weather proofing
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Landscape photography features
Sony W230 Landscape photography features
46
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
good battery life (350 shots)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
36
focusing manually
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-1 iHS
Vlogging with Sony W230
36
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Sony W230
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-05-08 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 610k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 156g (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 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 350 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model LI90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $180