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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Launched December 2012
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
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is pretty close but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and A230 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-2 iHS was announced 3 years after the A230 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up vs the A230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony A230

 XZ-2 iHS A230 
RevealedDecember 2012May 2009Newer by 44 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 A230 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A230

 XZ-2 iHS A230 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS comes with outside dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony A230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS versus the A230.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and A230 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching specs. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and A230.

All in all, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will render more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent XZ-2 iHS will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony A230 Portrait photography advice
46
focusing manually
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
54
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Street photography with Sony A230
66
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (346g)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography details
Sony A230 Sports photography details
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (340 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10MP)
not so great battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
61
great battery pack (340 per charge)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (346g)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography features
Sony A230 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (340 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
51
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
36
rather wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
9
no video
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A230
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-12-18 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346g (0.76 lbs) 490g (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 49 63
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 11.4
DXO Low light score 216 531
Other
Battery life 340 photos 230 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $450 $569