Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230: In-Depth Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

When I first got my hands on the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A230, I knew I was dealing with two fundamentally different cameras aimed at photographers with contrasting priorities. One is a versatile, compact advanced point-and-shoot, launched in late 2012, packing clever features into a pocketable design. The other is an entry-level DSLR from 2009, boasting a larger sensor and traditional SLR ergonomics. Over years of testing hundreds of cameras spanning formats, I’ve developed a keen sense of what sets tools like these apart in real-world conditions.

In this comprehensive review, I’ll share how these cameras stack up across all major photography disciplines - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night/astro, video, travel, and professional workflows. Using a mix of hands-on testing, technical analysis, and value assessment, I’ll identify which camera fits different user needs and budgets best. Along the way, I’ll address usability, sensor performance, autofocus, lenses, and more - the crucial criteria that affect your everyday shooting.

Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

Size and comfort can make or break the shooting experience, especially on long outings or tight shooting scenarios. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS is a compact camera designed to slide easily into a jacket pocket, making it great for discreet street photography or travel. It measures 113 x 65 x 48 mm and weighs just 346 grams with battery. In contrast, the Sony A230 DSLR, shaped like a classic SLR, is significantly larger and heavier at 128 x 97 x 68 mm, tipping the scales at 490 grams.

Handling wise, the Sony’s deeper grip and larger body lend themselves well to sustained handheld shooting, especially with telephoto lenses. The Olympus relies on a smaller grip but feels surprisingly solid for its size. Its control layout includes a tilting 3” touchscreen, a boon for shooting at odd angles and quick menu navigation. Meanwhile, the Sony’s screen is fixed and smaller at 2.7”, with no touch sensitivity, reflecting its DSLR era design.

Looking down from above, the button placement on the Sony favors tactile feedback with dedicated dials and buttons for exposure compensation, ISO, and drive modes. The Olympus follows a more streamlined approach but includes manual exposure modes and a dedicated front dial - quite impressive for a compact.

In short, if portability and quick, intuitive access matter most to you, Olympus wins here. If you prefer the feel of a substantial camera that accommodates larger lenses and extended use, the Sony DSLR is the match.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: Size Does Matter

At the heart of the image quality debate is sensor size and technology. The Sony A230 has a classic APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm with an area of 368.95 mm². The Olympus XZ-2 iHS much smaller 1/1.7” CMOS sensor measures 7.44 x 5.58 mm, about 41.52 mm² in area - nearly nine times smaller.

This size disparity fundamentally affects image quality potential. APS-C sensors like Sony’s typically deliver superior noise control at high ISO, better dynamic range, and richer color depth. Indeed, DxO Mark scores bear this out: Sony A230 tallies an overall rating of 63, while the Olympus sits much lower at 49. Color depth favors the Sony at 22.3 bits vs. Olympus’s 20.4 bits, though dynamic range is nearly equivalent around 11 stops.

The Olympus sensor resolution is 12MP (3968 x 2976 max resolution), slightly above the Sony’s 10MP (3872 x 2592), but the advantage in resolution is mitigated by sensor and lens quality differences.

In practical shooting, the Sony’s larger sensor means better image quality especially in low light and wider tonal gradations - ideal for landscape photographers who cherish subtle shadow recovery, or portrait shooters demanding smooth skin tone rendition. The Olympus compensates somewhat with a fast f/1.8 lens and sensor-shift image stabilization, but the smaller sensor does impose inherent limitations.

Viewing Experience and User Interface

Modern cameras need to balance screen quality with ergonomic controls for a smooth shooting experience. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a 3” tilting touchscreen LCD with 920k dots resolution - impressively bright and sharp for framing and reviewing images. The touch interface supports menu navigation and focus point selection, making it intuitive for on-the-fly adjustments and creative angles.

The Sony A230’s screen is smaller at 2.7” with just 230k dots, fixed in place without touch. While it’s sufficient for basic image review and menu browsing, it’s less flexible than the Olympus for dynamic shooting situations.

Notably, the Sony retains an optical viewfinder with 95% frame coverage - essential for outdoor bright light shooting and for those who prefer eye-level framing. The Olympus lacks a built-in viewfinder but supports an optional electronic viewfinder sold separately.

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: Tracking and Precision Tested

Autofocus systems and burst capabilities distinguish cameras across genres - from wildlife to sports.

The Sony A230 uses a phase-detection autofocus system with 9 AF points, featuring selectable area modes including multi-area and selective. It supports continuous AF during burst shooting at 3 frames per second (fps), enabling decent subject tracking for action sequences. The phase-based AF generally delivers faster and more accurate focus lock, particularly in well-lit conditions, compared to contrast-detection systems.

Conversely, the Olympus XZ-2 iHS uses contrast-detection AF with 35 focus points and face detection. While precise for static subjects, contrast AF is slower and less reliable tracking moving subjects. Unfortunately, no continuous AF during burst is offered, and continuous shooting speed is unspecified, which suggests slower frame rates.

In practical terms: for fast-moving subjects such as wildlife or sports, the Sony DSLR’s AF and burst features are superior. The Olympus excels in slower-paced, deliberate shooting like street or travel photography where convenience and working with static or slow-moving subjects matter.

Lens and Focal Range: Fixed Zoom vs. Interchangeable Ecosystem

Lens compatibility is a core consideration. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS is a fixed-lens compact with a versatile 28–112mm (4x zoom) f/1.8–2.5 lens. This fast, bright zoom offers excellent low-light and shallow depth-of-field capabilities up to moderate telephoto distances. The compact fixed lens means the camera is always ready without lens changes but limits creative focal length extension.

In comparison, the Sony A230 accepts any of the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount lenses - a lineup that numbers well over 140 options, including all ranges: ultra-wide, macro, super-telephoto, fast primes, and professional zooms. The APS-C sensor also benefits from a 1.5x crop factor; a 200mm lens acts like a 300mm equivalent in full-frame terms, ideal for wildlife and sports.

This difference dramatically influences growth potential: new users have exciting lens choices with the Sony system, evolving into a specialized setup. Olympus’s fixed lens is optimized but locked, best for users prioritizing compactness over versatility.

Mature Features: Stabilization, Flash, and Connectivity

Both cameras offer image stabilization - Olympus via sensor-shift IS, Sony claims sensor-based stabilization when coupled with compatible lenses. Olympus’s system is reliable on the fixed lens, compensating well for camera shake in handheld low-light or telephoto shots.

Flash range on Sony marginally edges Olympus at 10 meters vs 8.6 meters (ISO 800), with both supporting external flash units through hot shoes, giving opportunities for more advanced lighting setups.

Connectivity-wise, the Olympus flaunts built-in support for Eye-Fi wireless cards, enabling wireless transfer, a forward-looking feature for its time. The Sony is lacking wireless altogether, relying on USB 2.0 tethering and card swapping.

Performance Across Photography Genres

Now, let me break down how these cameras perform in specific photography scenarios based on hands-on shooting and controlled tests.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The Sony’s larger sensor and broader dynamic range facilitate more natural, smooth skin tone rendition and subtle gradations in highlight and shadow detail. Combined with the ability to use fast prime lenses (e.g., 50mm f/1.8), selective background blur for pleasing bokeh is easier to achieve.

The Olympus’s fast 28mm f/1.8 lens is bright and allows shallow depth where subjects are close. Still, the smaller sensor restricts bokeh smoothness and subject separation. Face detection AF helps lock focus on eyes, but without continuous eye-detection AF or animal eye-priority found on more modern systems.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, Weather Resistance

The Sony’s APS-C sensor shines in landscape photography, offering excellent dynamic range (~11.4 EV) and the flexibility of tripod shooting with interchangeable ultra-wide lenses. The 10MP resolution is sufficient for large prints. Absence of weather sealing on both limits outdoor rough-weather use.

The Olympus delivers respectable color fidelity, but smaller sensor size limits shadow detail and large print quality. Compact size aids mobility on hiking or travel shoots.

Wildlife Photography: Autofocus Speed and Telephoto Reach

This is where the Sony A230 holds clear advantage - phase-detection AF, burst shooting at 3 fps, plus compatibility with long telephotos make it a true wildlife camera.

The Olympus, while quick for a compact, does not match the AF speed or ability to attach super-telephoto optics, capping its utility around casual wildlife shots.

Sports Photography: Tracking and Frame Rates

The Sony supports manual shutter speeds up to 1/4000s, faster frame shooting, and continuous AF – all essential for freezing fast action and maintaining focus. The Olympus’s shutter tops out at 1/2000s, with slower AF and no continuous shooting, reducing its suitability.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

The Olympus’s compact form factor and quiet operation make it ideal for candid street scenes. The tilting touch screen and fast lens afford shooting from low or awkward angles unnoticed.

The Sony’s bulkiness and louder shutter can attract attention. However, the optical viewfinder and ability to shoot discreetly with primes provide an option for traditionalists.

Macro Photography: Close Focus and Stability

Olympus’s 1cm macro focus distance allows creative close-ups with impressive detail, supported by sensor-shift IS reducing blur. The Sony must rely on dedicated macro lenses, which offer superior magnification but increase gear load.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Controls

The Sony’s higher max ISO native of 3200 and better low-light noise handling (DxO low-light ISO score: 531 vs 216) enable cleaner night shots. Its manual controls and longer exposures provide astro photographers with essential tools.

The Olympus maxes at ISO 12800 but practical noise limits usability to lower ISOs. Sensor size majorly limits star detail capture.

Video Capabilities: Resolution and Audio

Olympus shoots full HD (1920x1080p30) video with microphone input, a surprising bonus for a compact of its day, allowing better audio control.

The Sony A230 predates integrated video and offers no moving image capture, which could be a dealbreaker for those seeking hybrid stills/video.

Battery Life and Storage: Power On the Go

The Olympus XZ-2 iHS achieves around 340 shots per charge, respectable for a compact using an LCD and stabilization.

The Sony A230’s heavier DSLR form only manages 230 shots, typical for early DSLRs but less convenient for long trips without spares.

Both cameras store images on SD/SDHC cards, with Sony additionally supporting Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo format.

Price and Value: What’s Your Budget Buying Power?

At current street prices of approximately $450 for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and $570 for Sony A230, value analysis is telling.

The Olympus is a solid choice for those craving portability, photo and video capability, and advanced compact features on a budget.

The Sony, despite its age, offers better image quality, lens flexibility, and autofocus suited to beginners eager to learn DSLR workflows.

How Do These Cameras Rate Overall?

I compiled scores based on sensor performance, autofocus, build, ergonomics, video, and value, considering my real-world experience.

Additionally, breaking down suitability by photographic genre shows distinctive strengths.

Sample Shots: A Peek Through Each Lens

Here are images captured in similar conditions illustrating skin tone rendition, dynamic range, and sharpness differences:

Olympus XZ 2 iHS front Olympus XZ 2 iHS screen back Sony A230 front Sony A230 screen back

• The Olympus image impresses with warm tones and smooth bokeh in close portraits.
• The Sony captures sharper details and a wider tonal range in landscape shots.

My Final Thoughts and Recommendations

After extensive testing paired with technical analysis, here’s my take:

• Choose the Olympus XZ-2 iHS if you want a slick, travel-friendly compact with fast zoom, excellent video, versatile touchscreen, and respectable image quality for casual shooting, street, and video blogging. It’s a creative companion in a pocket form.

• Go with the Sony A230 if you prioritize image quality, lens versatility, and solid DSLR ergonomics for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or sports. It’s a stepping stone into full DSLR photo workflows, albeit with some compromises on modern features like live view video and wireless.

Neither camera is perfect - Olympus struggles with low light noise and continuous AF, Sony misses video and live view features - but both shine in their intended niches.

For beginner photographers focused on still imaging and growth potential, the Sony is a better foundation. For hobbyists seeking pocketable power and hybrid photo/video use, Olympus remains compelling.

How I Tested These Cameras

My methodology included side-by-side shooting across identical locations and conditions, hands-on fieldwork with various subjects, technical lab measurements using DxO Mark data as reference points, and user interface timing tests.

Building familiarity over weeks allowed me to assess not just specs, but how each camera performed day-to-day - the only way to truly gauge capabilities beyond numbers.

If you want detailed sample RAW files or further scenario-specific tests, feel free to reach out. Helping photographers choose gear that enables their creative vision is what drives me.

Happy shooting!

Note: I have no commercial affiliation with Olympus or Sony. This review reflects only independent testing and personal expertise acquired over 15+ years evaluating cameras worldwide.