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Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A200
  • Refreshed by Sony A290
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • Updated by Sony HX30V
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Here, we are looking at the Sony A230 and Sony HX20V, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and HX20V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The A230 was revealed 4 years before the HX20V which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the A230 grades versus the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony HX20V

 A230 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony A230

 HX20V A230 
IntroducedJuly 2012May 2009More modern by 38 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony HX20V

 A230 HX20V 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 features physical dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Sony A230 and Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the A230 and the HX20V.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A230 and HX20V is 69 and 90 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The image here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and HX20V.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A230 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX20V will give extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged A230 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX20V Portrait photography highlights
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
45
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography info
Sony HX20V Street photography info
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A230
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography information
Sony HX20V Travel photography information
45
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (230 shots)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX20V Landscape photography advice
51
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
no liveview
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
50
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging factors
Sony HX20V Vlogging factors
9
no video shooting
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony HX20V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-05-18 2012-07-20
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3872 x 2592 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 531 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos 320 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $569 $397