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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Successor is Olympus VR-330
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Refreshed by Sony A290
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus VR-320 versus Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the VR-320 (14MP) and A230 (10MP) and the VR-320 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The VR-320 was introduced 2 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 VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the VR-320 grades vs the A230 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Sony A230

 VR-320 A230 
IntroducedJuly 2011May 2009Newer by 27 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus VR-320

 A230 VR-320 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A230

 VR-320 A230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-320 has got external measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VR-320 versus Sony A230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the VR-320 against the A230.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and A230 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specs. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-320 and A230.

All in all, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The VR-320 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus VR-320 will offer you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The fresher VR-320 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Portrait photography info
Sony A230 Portrait photography info
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-320
Street photography with Sony A230
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (158 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-320
Sports photography with Sony A230
47
great zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10MP)
bad battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competition (158 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Landscape photography info
Sony A230 Landscape photography info
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
bad battery life (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Vlogging information
Sony A230 Vlogging information
32
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition (158 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
9
can't record video
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Sony A230
 Olympus VR-320Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VR-320 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-07-19 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158 gr (0.35 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 230 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $179 $569