Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30
96 Imaging
33 Features
21 Overall
28


96 Imaging
42 Features
43 Overall
42
Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 2000
- Digital Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 35-105mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 115g - 91 x 57 x 20mm
- Released February 2009
(Full Review)
- 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3.3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 12800
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
- 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
- Launched July 2013

Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Overview
Here, we will be analyzing the Nikon S230 versus Sony TX30, both Ultracompact cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the S230 (10MP) and TX30 (18MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

The S230 was unveiled 5 years before the TX30 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).
Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the S230 grades versus the TX30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S230 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30. The full galleries are provided at Nikon S230 Gallery & Sony TX30 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon S230 over the Sony TX30
S230 | TX30 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Nikon S230
TX30 | S230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | July 2013 | ![]() | February 2009 | More recent by 54 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Screen size | 3.3" | ![]() | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+999k dot) |
Common features in the Nikon S230 and Sony TX30
S230 | TX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither includes selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S230 features outside dimensions of 91mm x 57mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 115 grams (0.25 lbs) whilst the Sony TX30 has dimensions of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).
Look at the Nikon S230 versus Sony TX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the S230 against the TX30.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S230 and TX30 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S230 and TX30.
As you can see, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony TX30 to produce greater detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older S230 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S230 vs Sony TX30 Specifications
Nikon Coolpix S230 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Nikon | Sony |
Model type | Nikon Coolpix S230 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 |
Category | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Released | 2009-02-03 | 2013-07-26 |
Body design | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.16 x 4.62mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 28.5mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 18MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | - |
Highest resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4896 x 3672 |
Highest native ISO | 2000 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 35-105mm (3.0x) | 26-130mm (5.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/3.1-5.9 | f/3.5-4.8 |
Macro focusing distance | 10cm | - |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3 inches | 3.3 inches |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 1,229 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display tech | - | OLED monitor |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 8 seconds | 4 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 11.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash modes | Auto, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On, Slow sync | - |
Hot shoe | ||
AE 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) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 640x480 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | 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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 115g (0.25 lbs) | 141g (0.31 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 91 x 57 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.8") | 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around 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 | EN-EL10 | - |
Self timer | Yes (3 or 10 sec) | - |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC, Internal | - |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $150 | $230 |