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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Launched July 2020
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Renewed by Sony A290
Photography Glossary

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Nikon Z5 versus Sony A230, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and A230 (10MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and A230 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The Z5 was manufactured 11 years after the A230 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the Z5 matches up against the A230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Sony A230

 Z5 A230 
IntroducedJuly 2020May 2009More modern by 137 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Nikon Z5

 A230 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Sony A230

 Z5 A230 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and size. The Nikon Z5 has external measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Nikon Z5 versus Sony A230 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the Z5 compared to the A230.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and A230 is 62 and 69 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the Z5 and A230.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The Z5 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Nikon Z5 will give greater detail due to its extra 14MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern Z5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon Z5
Portrait photography with Sony A230
85
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z5 Street photography details
Sony A230 Street photography details
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
includes touch to focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than average in class (675g)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography factors
Sony A230 Sports photography factors
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery power (470 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.5 fps)
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 Travel photography information
Sony A230 Travel photography information
68
good battery power (470 per charge)
weather sealing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
good MP (24MP)
heavier than average in class (675g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (230 shots)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A230 as a Landscape photography camera
86
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
good battery power (470 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10MP)
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
heavier than average in class (675 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Sony A230
 Nikon Z5Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2020-07-20 2009-05-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 6 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4016 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 273 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 15 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.5fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 675 grams (1.49 lb) 490 grams (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 63
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 531
Other
Battery life 470 shots 230 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15c NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Price at launch $1,399 $569