Sony A230 vs Sony NEX-F3

Here, we will be evaluating the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-F3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A230 was released 4 years prior to the NEX-F3 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the A230 grades against the NEX-F3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 & Sony Alpha NEX-F3. The complete galleries are available at Sony A230 Gallery & Sony NEX-F3 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A230 provides outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has dimensions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check the Sony A230 and Sony NEX-F3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the A230 vs the NEX-F3.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A230 and NEX-F3 is 69 and 86 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specs. The image below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A230 and NEX-F3.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony NEX-F3 to resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged A230 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.