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Sony A230 vs Sony A6500

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Released May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Renewed by Sony A290
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Revealed October 2016
  • Old Model is Sony A6300
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Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A230 versus Sony A6500, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and A6500 (24MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The A230 was revealed 8 years prior to the A6500 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the A230 matches up against the A6500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony A6500

 A230 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony A230

 A6500 A230 
RevealedOctober 2016May 2009More modern by 89 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony A6500

 A230 A6500 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A230 comes with physical 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 A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A230 versus Sony A6500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the A230 compared to the A6500.

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and A6500 is 69 and 81 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes merely by researching technical specs. The image below might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and A6500.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony A6500 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged A230 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A6500 Portrait photography highlights
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
80
has manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography advice
Sony A6500 Street photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography features
Sony A6500 Sports photography features
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery power (230 per charge)
77
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A230
Travel photography with Sony A6500
45
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low battery power (230 CIPA)
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
74
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery life (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
51
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery life (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging information
Sony A6500 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
39
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Sony A230 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony A6500
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2009-05-18 2016-10-06
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3872 x 2592 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 425
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Available lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 453 grams (1.00 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 63 85
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 13.7
DXO Low light score 531 1405
Other
Battery life 230 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $569 $1,298