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Sony A230 vs Sony HX5

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Older Model is Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Sony A230 versus Sony HX5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. The image resolution of the A230 (10MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the A230 (APS-C) and HX5 (1/2.4") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The A230 was launched 13 months earlier than the HX5 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the A230 grades vs the HX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony HX5

 A230 HX5 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony A230

 HX5 A230 
LaunchedJune 2010May 2009Fresher by 13 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony HX5

 A230 HX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A230 comes with exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Sony A230 versus Sony HX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the A230 compared to the HX5.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A230 and HX5 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The visual below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and HX5.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The A230 comes with the larger sensor which will make achieving bokeh easier. The older A230 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography information
Sony HX5 Portrait photography information
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
no external flash support
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography details
Sony HX5 Street photography details
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography advice
Sony HX5 Sports photography advice
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow fps (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
26
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A230
Travel photography with Sony HX5
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
60
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX5 Landscape photography factors
51
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
37
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX5 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no microphone support
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony HX5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-05-18 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3872 x 2592 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $569 $275