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Sony A230 vs Sony HX300

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Replaced the Sony A200
  • Replacement is Sony A290
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Released February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Later Model is Sony HX400V
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Sony A230 versus Sony HX300, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The A230 was announced 4 years before the HX300 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the A230 grades vs the HX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony HX300

 A230 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony A230

 HX300 A230 
ReleasedFebruary 2013May 2009Newer by 45 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony HX300

 A230 HX300 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A230 enjoys outside measurements 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 HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony A230 versus Sony HX300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the A230 versus the HX300.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and HX300 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The pic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and HX300.

As you can tell, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A230 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony HX300 will show more detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A230 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography information
Sony HX300 Portrait photography information
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
42
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography highlights
Sony HX300 Street photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than average in class (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography information
Sony HX300 Sports photography information
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
low battery power (230 per charge)
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography advice
Sony HX300 Travel photography advice
45
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery power (230 per charge)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
54
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (623 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography details
Sony HX300 Landscape photography details
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
48
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A230
Vlogging with Sony HX300
9
no video recording
25
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (623 grams)
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony HX300
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-05-18 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 lbs) 623g (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 531 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo -
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $569 $339