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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Later Model is Sony A290
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 V
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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Sony A230 versus Sony RX100 IV, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and RX100 IV (20MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and RX100 IV (1") use totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The A230 was announced 7 years before the RX100 IV and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the A230 matches up vs the RX100 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony RX100 IV

 A230 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony A230

 RX100 IV A230 
LaunchedJune 2015May 2009Fresher by 73 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony RX100 IV

 A230 RX100 IV 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 enjoys exterior dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check out the Sony A230 versus Sony RX100 IV in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A230 vs the RX100 IV.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A230 and RX100 IV is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing technical specs. The visual below will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A230 and RX100 IV.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A230 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 IV will offer greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The older A230 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography details
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
65
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A230
Street photography with Sony RX100 IV
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography advice
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 CIPA)
68
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (16.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography factors
45
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery (230 CIPA)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
86
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography details
51
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging advice
9
no video
81
really wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others in class (298g)
does not have external mic support
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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony RX100 IV
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-05-18 2015-06-10
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3872 x 2592 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 lb) 298g (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 63 70
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 12.6
DXO Low light score 531 562
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 280 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $569 $898