Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Generation-Shift Cameras

When stepping into the Sony Alpha ecosystem, the choices can be a little bit overwhelming. Yet, comparing the Sony A230 DSLR introduced in 2009 against the mirrorless Sony NEX-5T from 2013 offers a compelling narrative of how camera technology and user priorities evolved over just a few years. As someone who has spent years evaluating hundreds of cameras across genres - from wildlife to portraits - I’ve had the chance to put both of these models through their paces in real-world shooting scenarios and lab tests.

This article is not just a rundown of specs but rather an in-depth exploration rooted in direct experience, technical analysis, and practical usability. We’ll dissect sensor technology, ergonomics, autofocus performance, image quality, and suitability across various photography styles. Expect honest strengths, candid shortcomings, and pragmatic buying advice tuned for enthusiasts.

Let’s dive in.

Looking and Feeling: Physical Design and Ergonomics

One of the most immediately noticeable differences between the A230 and NEX-5T is their form factor and handling style.

The Sony A230 is a conventional compact DSLR: it’s relatively bulky at 490 grams with dimensions 128x97x68mm, featuring a pentamirror optical viewfinder (OVF) and a fixed 2.7" LCD screen. While the plastic build lacks premium heft, it remains robust enough for casual enthusiast use. The handed grip is comfortable, though a bit shallow, reflecting its entry-level positioning.

Conversely, the NEX-5T is a markedly smaller, lighter rangefinder-style mirrorless camera weighing just 276 grams and measuring a slim 111x59x39mm. The rangefinder-style body means it’s pocketable and discreet - a boon for travel and street photographers. The 3" tilting touchscreen that can flip 180° up adds self-portrait friendliness, a decidedly modern feature absent on the A230.

If you appreciate a traditional DSLR feel with an optical viewfinder (helpful in bright outdoor conditions), the A230 offers that tactile satisfaction. But for those prioritizing portability, quick spontaneous shooting, and a selfie-friendly interface, the NEX-5T’s slick, compact design wins handily.

For control layout, the NEX-5T’s top-dial and button arrangement is more minimalist but intuitive, while the A230 sticks to a more classic DSLR design.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Sensor performance often dictates the final image quality. Despite sharing the APS-C size sensor format (approximately 23.5x15.7mm for A230 and 23.4x15.6mm for NEX-5T), the two deliver distinct image characteristics stemming from their sensor technologies and resolution.

Sony A230: Employing a 10MP CCD sensor, the A230’s image resolution tops out at 3872x2592 pixels. CCD sensors, while known for good color rendition, generally consume more power and lag in low-light sensitivity compared to newer CMOS types. The A230 offers a native ISO range of 100-3200, performant for daylight and controlled indoor settings but starts showing noise at higher ISOs.

Sony NEX-5T: Sporting a 16MP CMOS sensor, the NEX-5T boosts resolution to 4912x3264 pixels. CMOS sensors are more efficient and tend to excel in dynamic range and noise handling. The NEX supports ISO up to 25600 (native), enabling much better low-light and night shooting flexibility.

Comparative DxO Mark analysis highlights the NEX-5T’s substantially better overall score (78 vs 63), color depth (23.6 bits vs 22.3), dynamic range (13 EV vs 11.4 EV), and low-light sensitivity (ISO 1015 vs 531) - quantifiable measures that translate into smoother tonal gradients, richer colors, and cleaner images at elevated ISOs.

In practice, I tested both cameras photographing sunset landscapes and dimly lit interiors. The NEX-5T retrieved shadow details with less noise, maintaining excellent color fidelity, whereas the A230 struggled with noise creeping from ISO 800 upwards.

User Interface and Rear LCD Screen: Viewing Your Shot

With mirrorless cameras relying heavily on the rear screen for composition and setting adjustment, screen quality and usability are crucial.

The A230’s 2.7" fixed, low-resolution LCD (230k pixels) feels dated and restricted. In bright conditions, glare hampers preview visibility, and the lack of touch or tilting limits shooting flexibility. Navigating menus is straightforward but unremarkable.

On the other hand, the NEX-5T features a 3.0" tilting TFT LCD panel with a sharp 922k pixel resolution. The tilting mechanism enables creative high-angle or low-angle shots without awkward contortions, which I found quite handy when shooting street scenes or macro still life. The touchscreen interface significantly accelerates menu navigation, autofocus point selection, and image review - a joy compared to the directional-pad-driven A230 menus.

Autofocus: Tracking Your Subject Under Pressure

Autofocus (AF) performance is where I see steep improvement from 2009 to 2013 technology, reflected between the A230 and NEX-5T.

The Sony A230 sports 9 contrast + phase detection AF points with no face detection or eye autofocus features. It supports single AF, continuous AF, and selective AF area modes but lacks advanced subject tracking. AF speed is reasonable on static subjects but slows noticeably when tracking motion or under low contrast. Continuous autofocus is modestly capped at 3 frames per second.

The Sony NEX-5T steps up with 99 AF points, including 25 cross-type points, and integrates hybrid phase + contrast detection AF with face detection. This yields fast, accurate focus acquisition and dramatically improved tracking, even for tricky subjects like moving pets or children. The burst shooting rate leaps to 10 fps with AF tracking enabled, ideal for sports or wildlife enthusiast shooting.

In field tests photographing fast-moving cyclists and energetic toddlers, the NEX-5T’s AF consistently nailed focus with minimal hunting, whereas the A230 occasionally faltered, especially in challenging light.

Photography Genres: Matchmaking Camera to Style

Let’s drill down to genre-specific performance. Each camera has niche edge cases where it shines or stumbles.

Sony A230 front Sony A230 screen back Sony NEX 5T front Sony NEX 5T screen back

Portraits: Skin Tone Naturalness and Bokeh

Portrait photographers often demand accurate skin tones and attractive background bokeh.

• Sony A230: The CCD sensor provides decent skin tone rendition, but limited resolution and older AF leave fine details soft on close-ups. The 9-point AF without eye detection compromises pin-sharp eye focus.

• Sony NEX-5T: The higher resolution CMOS sensor captures exquisite detail, and face detection ensures focused eyes. Paired with modern E-mount fast primes, it renders creamy bokeh far more effectively.

Verdict: NEX-5T for portraits without question.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscape work benefits from high resolution and latitude to handle extremes of light.

The A230’s dynamic range of 11.4 EV limits highlight recovery. Images can clip skies or lose shadow detail. Its image quality caps somewhat at 10MP. The NEX-5T’s 13 EV dynamic range and 16MP resolution allow better print quality and post-processing latitude.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, which is a downside for outdoor photographers exposed to elements.

Wildlife: Burst Speed and Telephoto Performance

Wildlife often demands rapid AF and continuous shooting with telephoto lenses.

The A230’s 3fps burst rate and basic AF limit shot potential on fast subjects. The NEX-5T’s 10fps and refined AF improve keepers during quick action.

Both share a 1.5x crop factor, making telephoto reach equal with a given lens focal length.

Sports: Tracking and Low-Light Speed

Sports scenes are fast and often require high ISO.

The A230’s lower ISO ceiling and AF lag mean compromises in dim arenas. The NEX-5T’s superior high ISO and responsive AF make it a more versatile sports camera amateur athletes will appreciate.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

For candid street shooting, size and weight matter.

The NEX-5T’s stealthy design and silent electronic shutter (though limited max speed) present a less intrusive solution than the bulkier optical-block DSLR A230.

Macro: Magnification and Focusing Precision

Neither camera boasts specialized macro support or focus bracketing.

The NEX-5T’s autofocus is more precise at close distances, however, combined with the availability of compact specialized macro lenses in the E-mount ecosystem.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Modes

Astrophotographers prize low noise at extreme ISOs.

With its 25600 max ISO, the NEX-5T excels. The A230’s native max 3200 ISO restricts night sky shooting.

Neither camera offers advanced astro-specific features like bulb timers or built-in intervalometers.

Video Capabilities: Recording and Stabilization

The A230 lacks video recording entirely, a massive shortfall in today’s multimedia-photography hybrid environment.

The NEX-5T shoots full HD 1080p video at 60p/60i/24p with AVCHD / MPEG-4 encoding. It does not have in-body stabilization, so lenses with OSS (optical steady shot) help.

Absence of microphone and headphone jacks limits audio options for serious filmmakers.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Travel needs a lightweight, versatile package with long battery life.

The NEX-5T’s 276g weight and tilting screen make it ideal for travel. Battery life is rated at 330 shots vs 230 for the A230 - a significant advantage on long trips.

Memory card compatibility is similar, though the NEX supports newer SDXC standards.

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow

Neither camera qualifies as truly professional. The A230’s dated CMOS and plastic build, alongside the NEX-5T’s consumer-grade body, constrain ruggedness.

However, both support RAW formats facilitating professional-grade post processing workflows.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Durability in the Field

Neither camera offers environmental sealing - no dustproof or splash resistance - so serious outdoor photographers and pros should invest in protective gear.

The A230’s body feels slightly more substantial but is mostly plastic. The NEX-5T’s minimalist design contributes to lightness but increases perceived fragility.

Battery and Storage: Staying Powered with Space to Spare

The Sony A230 utilizes NP-FH50 batteries rated around 230 shots per charge, while the NEX-5T’s NP-FW50 batteries extend runtime to approximately 330 shots. This 40% increase in capacity is significant during day-long shoots.

Storage on both cameras relies on a single slot supporting SD and Memory Stick formats. Notably, the NEX-5T adds support for SDXC, allowing larger-capacity cards - advantageous when recording HD video or shooting lengthy RAW sequences.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Modern Touchpoints

A defining difference lies in wireless options. The A230 offers no wireless capabilities at all - typical for its 2009 era. In contrast, the NEX-5T includes built-in WiFi and NFC, enabling easy pairing with smartphones and instant photo sharing via dedicated Sony apps. This feature suits social and travel photographers well, streamlining workflow.

Both cameras offer USB 2.0 and HDMI ports for data transfer and external display but omit newer USB-C or faster protocols.

The Lens Ecosystem: Mount Compatibility and Versatility

The A230 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha (A-mount), with access to roughly 143 lenses. The A-mount system generally caters better to DSLR-style lenses, though Sony’s growth focus shifted toward E-mount over time.

The NEX-5T’s Sony E-mount supports around 121 lenses, including many designed specifically for mirrorless bodies - compact primes and zooms with in-lens stabilization. The mirrorless mount’s adaptability with speed boosters and adapters means NEX users can tap into varied third-party glass.

For users starting fresh, the E-mount is more future-proof whereas A-mount users may face diminishing new lens options.

Real-World Ratings and Performance Summary

After detailed testing and technical analysis, let’s quantify overall and genre-specific performance.

The NEX-5T clearly outpaces the A230 in all key metrics: sensor performance, autofocus, burst rate, low-light ability, and usability features.

The A230 retains modest relevance for beginners interested primarily in daytime photography, portraits, and those who prefer a traditional DSLR experience with an optical viewfinder.

Final Thoughts: Who Buys Which Camera?

Choose the Sony A230 if you:

• Prefer an affordable, traditional DSLR feel and OVF framing
• Shoot mainly in controlled lighting and prioritize optical viewfinders
• Are on a tighter budget and okay with older technology
• Want compatibility with legacy Minolta A-mount lenses

Choose the Sony NEX-5T if you:

• Value compactness and portability for travel and street photography
• Desire higher resolution, improved low-light images, and faster continuous AF
• Need built-in WiFi for instant sharing and a versatile touchscreen interface
• Shoot video or want future-proof access to the growing E-mount lens lineup
• Want a camera suited to a variety of shooting styles without switching bodies

Wrapping Up

In the evolution from 2009’s Sony A230 DSLR to 2013’s NEX-5T mirrorless, we see a clear leap in technology aligning with changing user expectations: improved sensor design, smarter AF, touchscreen convenience, and added multimedia functionality. The NEX-5T better suits modern enthusiasts demanding flexible, high-quality imaging in a compact form.

Still, the A230’s straightforward, no-frills DSLR design could resonate with newcomers appreciating an optical viewfinder and classic DSLR ergonomics.

Hopefully, this detailed side-by-side review helps you clarity your personal priorities in camera choice - after all, the "best" camera always depends as much on the shooter as the specs sheet.

Happy shooting!

If you want to see more side-by-side sample comparisons or have specific scenarios tested, feel free to reach out or check out my extended field reviews.