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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus TG-6
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 253g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released May 2019
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-5
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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • New Model is Sony A290
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-6 and Sony A230, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TG-6 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is fairly similar but the TG-6 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TG-6 was unveiled 10 years after the A230 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-6 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a short overview of how the TG-6 matches up against the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-6 over the Sony A230

 TG-6 A230 
LaunchedMay 2019May 2009Newer by 122 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus TG-6

 A230 TG-6 

Common features in the Olympus TG-6 and Sony A230

 TG-6 A230 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-6 enjoys exterior dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 253 grams (0.56 lbs) while the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-6 and Sony A230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-6 against the A230.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-6 and A230 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The image underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-6 and A230.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-6 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus TG-6 will deliver extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher TG-6 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
40
you can focus manually
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Street photography factors
Sony A230 Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (253 grams)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Sports photography info
Sony A230 Sports photography info
47
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery (340 per charge)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-6
Travel photography with Sony A230
68
great battery (340 per charge)
weather proof
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors in class (253g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (230 shots)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A230 as a Landscape photography camera
57
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
great battery (340 CIPA)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7")
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (230 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Vlogging features
Sony A230 Vlogging features
34
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic support
heavier than competitors in class (253g)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus TG-6 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-6 and Sony A230
 Olympus Tough TG-6Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Tough TG-6 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2019-05-22 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII 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 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill- in, Manual, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 253 gr (0.56 lbs) 490 gr (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life 340 shots 230 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $449 $569