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Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX300
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Samsung NX500 versus Sony A230, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and A230 (10MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NX500 was revealed 5 years after the A230 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the NX500 scores vs the A230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Sony A230

 NX500 A230 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015May 2009Newer by 70 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kSharper screen (+806k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Samsung NX500

 A230 NX500 

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Sony A230

 NX500 A230 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Samsung NX500 features outer measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Sony A230 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check out the Samsung NX500 versus Sony A230 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the NX500 compared to the A230.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NX500 and A230 is 87 and 69 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The picture below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the NX500 and A230.

All in all, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Samsung NX500 to offer you greater detail because of its extra 18MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher NX500 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX500 Portrait photography advice
Sony A230 Portrait photography advice
80
focusing manually
excellent megapixels (28MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX500 Street photography details
Sony A230 Street photography details
81
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX500
Sports photography with Sony A230
75
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
excellent megapixels (28 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX500 Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
78
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
excellent megapixels (28MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
45
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX500
Landscape photography with Sony A230
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
excellent megapixels (28 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
51
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX500 Vlogging advice
Sony A230 Vlogging advice
34
has touchscreen
has face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Sony A230
 Samsung NX500Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2015-02-06 2009-05-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMe 5 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 28 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6480 x 4320 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 209 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,036k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash settings Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 -
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video data format H.265 -
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 287 gr (0.63 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 87 63
DXO Color Depth score 24.8 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 11.4
DXO Low light score 1379 531
Other
Battery life 370 images 230 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP1130 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $800 $569