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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
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
  • Launched February 2009
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax RZ18 and Sony W230, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The RZ18 was launched 2 years after the W230 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a short highlight of how the RZ18 matches up vs the W230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony W230

 RZ18 W230 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2009Newer by 32 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Pentax RZ18

 W230 RZ18 

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony W230

 RZ18 W230 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax RZ18 features outside measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax RZ18 and Sony W230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the RZ18 against the W230.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RZ18 and W230 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The image here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the RZ18 and W230.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Pentax RZ18 to give you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer RZ18 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography details
Sony W230 Portrait photography details
36
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography highlights
Sony W230 Street photography highlights
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than competitors (178g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Sports photography info
Sony W230 Sports photography info
46
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Travel photography information
Sony W230 Travel photography information
71
lighter than competitors (178g)
environment proofing
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
36
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Vlogging information
Sony W230 Vlogging information
30
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony W230
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-09-12 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-450mm (18.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance 4cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 178g (0.39 lb) 156g (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $210 $180