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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

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
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • Newer Model is Sony A290
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Successor is Sony a5000
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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both produced by Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A230 was unveiled 4 years prior to the NEX-3N and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the A230 grades vs the NEX-3N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony NEX-3N

 A230 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony A230

 NEX-3N A230 
LaunchedFebruary 2013May 2009More recent by 45 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-3N

 A230 NEX-3N 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 offers physical dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the A230 and the NEX-3N.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and NEX-3N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The visual below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and NEX-3N.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony NEX-3N to resolve extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The older A230 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Portrait photography camera
54
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
66
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A230
Street photography with Sony NEX-3N
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
77
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography advice
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery life (230 CIPA)
53
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery (480 shots)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography features
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
71
great battery (480 shots)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A230
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3N
51
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
MP count low (10MP)
low battery life (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (480 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A230
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3N
9
no video
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony NEX-3N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-05-18 2013-02-25
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Available lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 490g (1.08 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 12.5
DXO Low light score 531 1067
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 480 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $569 $399