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Sony A9 vs Sony W230

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Later Model is Sony A9 II
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Photography Glossary

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Sony A9 versus Sony W230, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and W230 (12MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and W230 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A9 was launched 8 years after the W230 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the A9 matches up against the W230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony W230

 A9 W230 
RevealedApril 2017February 2009More modern by 100 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k230kCrisper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A9

 W230 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony W230

 A9 W230 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A9 has got outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Sony A9 versus Sony W230 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the A9 compared to the W230.

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A9 and W230 is 65 and 95 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The image below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A9 and W230.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A9 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony A9 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent A9 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W230 as a Portrait photography camera
83
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 Street photography features
Sony W230 Street photography features
79
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
86
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 Travel photography info
Sony W230 Travel photography info
73
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
offers touch focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W230 Landscape photography highlights
85
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
2 card slots
36
you can focus manually
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A9
Vlogging with Sony W230
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Sony A9 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony W230
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2017-04-19 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.6 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 51200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,440 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 673g (1.48 lb) 156g (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 92 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3517 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FZ100 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Two One
Retail cost $4,498 $180