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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Key Specs

Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Renewed by Sony A290
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Sony A230 versus Sony NEX-5T, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and NEX-5T (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A230 was launched 5 years earlier than the NEX-5T which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the A230 matches up versus the NEX-5T in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 A230 NEX-5T 

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

 NEX-5T A230 
RevealedAugust 2013May 2009More modern by 52 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 A230 NEX-5T 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Sony A230 comes with external measurements 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-5T has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Sony A230 versus Sony NEX-5T in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the A230 and the NEX-5T.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A230 and NEX-5T is 69 and 89 respectively.

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

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and NEX-5T.

Clearly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony NEX-5T to render more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged A230 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Portrait photography camera
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (10MP)
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5T Street photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Sports photography highlights
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
bad battery power (230 shots)
69
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5T Travel photography features
45
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
77
includes focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A230
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5T
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
73
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
no external mic port
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Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony NEX-5T
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-05-18 2013-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3872 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 99
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 lb) 276g (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 63 78
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 13.0
DXO Low light score 531 1015
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $569 $400