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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Replacement is Sony A290
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 II
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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Sony A230 vs Sony RX100, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and RX100 (1") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The A230 was manufactured 4 years prior to the RX100 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the A230 scores vs the RX100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony RX100

 A230 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony A230

 RX100 A230 
IntroducedAugust 2012May 2009Newer by 39 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony RX100

 A230 RX100 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Sony A230 comes with exterior measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the A230 vs the RX100.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and RX100 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and RX100.

Clearly, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A230 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 will give greater detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged A230 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Portrait photography camera
54
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
64
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography factors
Sony RX100 Street photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography information
Sony RX100 Travel photography information
45
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
79
lighter than others in class (240g)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX100 Landscape photography factors
51
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (230 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
74
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony RX100
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-05-18 2012-08-28
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3872 x 2592 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 gr (1.08 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 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 Overall rating 63 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 531 390
Other
Battery life 230 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $569 $448