Pentax W80 vs Sony A230

In this write-up, we are comparing the Pentax W80 and Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the W80 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is very similar but the W80 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The W80 was revealed 2 months after the A230 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the W80 matches up against the A230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio W80 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax W80 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax W80 has exterior measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax W80 and Sony A230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the W80 vs the A230.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the W80 and A230 is 94 and 69 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading specifications. The image here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the W80 and A230.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The W80 with its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax W80 will deliver more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively.