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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
25
Overall
31

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 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
  • Introduced December 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 XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the W230 (12MP) is very comparable but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and W230 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-2 iHS was introduced 3 years later than the W230 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up against the W230 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony W230

 XZ-2 iHS W230 
IntroducedDecember 2012February 2009More recent by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 W230 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony W230

 XZ-2 iHS W230 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS has outside measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS versus the W230.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and W230 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and W230.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor measurements. The XZ-2 iHS comes with the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh simpler. The younger XZ-2 iHS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography factors
Sony W230 Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
27
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography factors
Sony W230 Street photography factors
66
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography info
Sony W230 Sports photography info
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
great battery power (340 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
61
great battery power (340 CIPA)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (346g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (340 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
37
has manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
36
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (346g)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony W230
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-12-18 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 1s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 346 grams (0.76 lb) 156 grams (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 216 not tested
Other
Battery life 340 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $450 $180