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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A200
  • New Model is Sony A290
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5N, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A230 was brought out 3 years earlier than the NEX-5N which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the A230 grades against the NEX-5N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A230 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A230

 NEX-5N A230 
IntroducedOctober 2011May 2009Newer by 28 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5N

 A230 NEX-5N 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 has outer 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) while the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A230 against the NEX-5N.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A230 and NEX-5N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and NEX-5N.

As you can see, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony NEX-5N to deliver greater detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged A230 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
54
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
73
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
offers focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
58
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography features
45
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
70
good battery (460 shots)
offers focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
71
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
33
screen is touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-05-18 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3872 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 77
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 12.7
DXO Low light score 531 1079
Other
Battery life 230 images 460 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $569 $550