Pentax P80 vs Sony A230

Below, we are evaluating the Pentax P80 vs Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the P80 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is very comparable but the P80 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The P80 was unveiled 3 months after the A230 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the P80 grades vs the A230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio P80 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The full galleries are provided at Pentax P80 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax P80 comes with external measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check out the Pentax P80 vs Sony A230 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the P80 compared to the A230.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P80 and A230 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Typically, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the P80 and A230.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The P80 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax P80 will show greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively.