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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Introduced October 2019
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
  • Released May 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Nikon Z50 and Sony A230, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and A230 (10MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The Z50 was released 10 years after the A230 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the Z50 grades versus the A230 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Sony A230

 Z50 A230 
ReleasedOctober 2019May 2009More modern by 127 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Nikon Z50

 A230 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Sony A230

 Z50 A230 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon Z50 features outside dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Sony A230 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon Z50 and Sony A230 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the Z50 compared to the A230.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z50 and A230 is 74 and 69 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The pic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the Z50 and A230.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Nikon Z50 to offer more detail as a result of its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern Z50 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography advice
Sony A230 Portrait photography advice
80
manual focus
resolution is good (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
54
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography info
Sony A230 Street photography info
73
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
features touch focus
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (397g)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography info
Sony A230 Sports photography info
75
resolution is good (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery life (230 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography information
Sony A230 Travel photography information
77
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
features touch focus
resolution is good (21MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than others in class (397g)
45
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (230 per charge)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography advice
Sony A230 Landscape photography advice
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
does not have image stabilization
51
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
71
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
provides face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (397g)
9
no video
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Sony A230
 Nikon Z50Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z50 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2019-10-10 2009-05-18
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5568 x 3712 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 209 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 15 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397g (0.88 lbs) 490g (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 320 pictures 230 pictures
Style of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $857 $569