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Canon 550D vs Sony A230

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Also Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Older Model is Canon 500D
  • Replacement is Canon 600D
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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
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Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Canon 550D versus Sony A230, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and A230 (10MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The 550D was manufactured 11 months after the A230 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the 550D grades versus the A230 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Sony A230

 550D A230 
IntroducedApril 2010May 2009More modern by 11 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Canon 550D

 A230 550D 

Common features in the Canon 550D and Sony A230

 550D A230 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon 550D comes with exterior dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") along with a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) and the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Compare the Canon 550D versus Sony A230 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the 550D vs the A230.

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and A230 is 70 and 69 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over technical specs. The pic here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the 550D and A230.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Canon 550D to deliver more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger 550D will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D Portrait photography information
Sony A230 Portrait photography information
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
54
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography features
Sony A230 Street photography features
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D Sports photography highlights
Sony A230 Sports photography highlights
54
decent MP (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (470 shots)
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
55
decent MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (470 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography advice
Sony A230 Landscape photography advice
63
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (470 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
51
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 550D
Vlogging with Sony A230
31
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
9
no video
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Canon 550D vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Sony A230
 Canon EOS 550DSony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Also referred to as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-04-01 2009-05-18
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 326 143
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT color liquid-crystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 gr (1.17 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 63
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 11.4
DXO Low light rating 807 531
Other
Battery life 470 photos 230 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E8 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $569