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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31
Ricoh CX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Ricoh CX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-200mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 180g - 102 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released February 2009
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Ricoh CX1 versus Sony W230, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Ricoh and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the CX1 (9MP) and W230 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The CX1 was manufactured very close to the W230 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the CX1 grades versus the W230 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX1 over the Sony W230

 CX1 W230 
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Ricoh CX1

 W230 CX1 

Common features in the Ricoh CX1 and Sony W230

 CX1 W230 
AnnouncedFebruary 2009February 2009Same age
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Ricoh CX1 comes with exterior dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and 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).

See the Ricoh CX1 versus Sony W230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the CX1 versus the W230.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the CX1 and W230 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the CX1 and W230.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony W230 to provide greater detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures much more aggressively.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Portrait photography information
Sony W230 Portrait photography information
25
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Ricoh CX1 as a Street photography camera
Sony W230 as a Street photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh CX1
Travel photography with Sony W230
59
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Landscape photography details
Sony W230 Landscape photography details
42
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
36
has manual focus
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Vlogging features
Sony W230 Vlogging features
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone support
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX1 and Sony W230
 Ricoh CX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh CX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-02-19 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Smooth Imaging Engine IV -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 9 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3456 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-200mm (7.1x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 1 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 180g (0.40 pounds) 156g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 DB-70 -
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $299 $180