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Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony A230 versus Sony HX30V, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The A230 was brought out 3 years earlier than the HX30V which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the A230 grades against the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony HX30V

 A230 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A230

 HX30V A230 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012May 2009More modern by 33 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony HX30V

 A230 HX30V 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A230 offers external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Sony A230 versus Sony HX30V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the A230 compared to the HX30V.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A230 and HX30V is 69 and 90 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The picture below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and HX30V.

All in all, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A230 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony HX30V will offer more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A230 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
54
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
45
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography info
Sony HX30V Street photography info
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography advice
Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A230
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
45
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
does not have liveview
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
50
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Sony A230 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-05-18 2012-02-28
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 10MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3872 x 2592 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
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
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 490 gr (1.08 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
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 Overall 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 pictures 320 pictures
Style of battery 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 One One
Cost at release $569 $420