Sony A230 has a
10.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Bionz processor. On the other hand, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a
12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .
Below you can see the A230 and XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A230 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Cameras
As seen above, Sony A230 has a 8.9x Larger sensor area than Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Sony A230 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A230 has scored 63, 14 points higher than XZ-2 iHS.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Sony A230
63
22.3 bits
11.4 Evs
531 ISO
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
49
20.4 bits
11.3 Evs
216 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Sony A230
or the
Olympus XZ-2 iHS ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(APS-C versus 1/1.7-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
