Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The A230 was introduced 12 months before the NEX-5 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A230 grades against the NEX-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The whole galleries are provided at Sony A230 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 has got outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the A230 vs the NEX-5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A230 and NEX-5 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and NEX-5.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony NEX-5 to provide greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged A230 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.