Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230
97 Imaging
39 Features
43 Overall
40


69 Imaging
50 Features
40 Overall
46
Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-130mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 121g - 92 x 56 x 10mm
- Released September 2011
(Full Review)

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Overview
Lets look a little more closely at the Samsung MV800 versus Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the MV800 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the MV800 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

The MV800 was manufactured 2 years after the A230 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung MV800 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the MV800 scores versus the A230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung MV800 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The entire galleries are available at Samsung MV800 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Samsung MV800 over the Sony A230
MV800 | A230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | September 2011 | ![]() | May 2009 | More modern by 28 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Samsung MV800
A230 | MV800 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing |
Common features in the Samsung MV800 and Sony A230
MV800 | A230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither includes selfie screen |
Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Samsung MV800 features exterior dimensions of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).
Take a look at the Samsung MV800 versus Sony A230 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the MV800 versus the A230.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the MV800 and A230 is 97 and 69 respectively.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by checking technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the MV800 and A230.
As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The MV800 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Samsung MV800 will give extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger MV800 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A230 Specifications
Samsung MV800 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Samsung | Sony |
Model | Samsung MV800 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Released | 2011-09-01 | 2009-05-18 |
Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3872 x 2592 |
Max native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 26-130mm (5.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
Available lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 2.7" |
Screen resolution | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.55x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 8 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | - | 3.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 3.20 m | 10.00 m |
Flash settings | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30/15 fps), 640 x 480 (30/15 fps), 320 x 240 (30/15 fps) | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | - |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 121 gr (0.27 lb) | 490 gr (1.08 lb) |
Dimensions | 92 x 56 x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") | 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 63 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 22.3 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 531 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 230 images |
Battery form | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BP70 | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | Micro SD | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch cost | $499 | $569 |