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Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43
Pentax Q7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax Q10
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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Earlier Model is Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
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Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Pentax Q7 and Sony A230, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the Q7 (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is fairly similar but the Q7 (1/1.7") and A230 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The Q7 was released 4 years later than the A230 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the Q7 grades against the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Sony A230

 Q7 A230 
LaunchedAugust 2013May 2009More recent by 52 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Pentax Q7

 A230 Q7 

Common features in the Pentax Q7 and Sony A230

 Q7 A230 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax Q7 comes with outer dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Pentax Q7 and Sony A230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the Q7 compared to the A230.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the Q7 and A230 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Q7 and A230.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Q7 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax Q7 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer Q7 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax Q7
Portrait photography with Sony A230
48
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q7 as a Street photography camera
Sony A230 as a Street photography camera
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors (200 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q7 Sports photography info
Sony A230 Sports photography info
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 shots)
has no phase detect AF
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q7 Travel photography information
Sony A230 Travel photography information
60
lighter than competitors (200g)
built-in flash
terrible battery (250 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
45
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q7 Landscape photography advice
Sony A230 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 CIPA)
51
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q7 Vlogging highlights
Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (200 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
9
can't record video
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Pentax Q7 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q7 and Sony A230
 Pentax Q7Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Q7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-08-08 2009-05-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax Q Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 8 143
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m (ISO100/m) 10.00 m
Flash settings P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200g (0.44 lb) 490g (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") 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 250 images 230 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (12 sec, 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $480 $569