Sony A230 vs Sony A550

Its time to take a closer look at the Sony A230 versus Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both are designed by Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The A230 was announced 6 months before the A550 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the A230 grades versus the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are available at Sony A230 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A230 has got external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A230 versus Sony A550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the A230 compared to the A550.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A230 and A550 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The photograph here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A230 and A550.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony A550 to provide greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively.