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Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A200
  • Replacement is Sony A290
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Let's look much closer at the Sony A230 and Sony HX90V, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and HX90V (18MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and HX90V (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The A230 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the HX90V and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the A230 scores vs the HX90V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony HX90V

 A230 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Sony A230

 HX90V A230 
RevealedApril 2015May 2009Fresher by 71 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony HX90V

 A230 HX90V 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A230 provides outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony HX90V has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Sony A230 and Sony HX90V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the A230 versus the HX90V.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and HX90V is 69 and 91 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing specifications. The visual here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A230 and HX90V.

Plainly, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A230 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX90V will show extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older A230 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A230
Portrait photography with Sony HX90V
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10MP)
45
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography highlights
Sony HX90V Street photography highlights
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
69
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A230
Sports photography with Sony HX90V
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery life (230 per charge)
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery power (360 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A230
Travel photography with Sony HX90V
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (230 shots)
low MP (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
76
good battery power (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A230
Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
51
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10MP)
terrible battery life (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
53
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
good battery power (360 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging information
Sony HX90V Vlogging information
9
lack of video recording
75
decently wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Sony A230 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony HX90V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-05-18 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
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 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 gr (1.08 lbs) 245 gr (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 shots 360 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $569 $440