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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA 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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Newer Model is Sony A290
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released July 2018
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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Sony A230 versus Sony RX100 VA, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and RX100 VA (20MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") enjoy different sensor size.

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The A230 was manufactured 10 years before the RX100 VA and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A230 matches up versus the RX100 VA with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony RX100 VA

 A230 RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony A230

 RX100 VA A230 
ReleasedJuly 2018May 2009Fresher by 111 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony RX100 VA

 A230 RX100 VA 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A230 comes with physical 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 VA has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A230 versus Sony RX100 VA in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A230 vs the RX100 VA.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and RX100 VA is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The visual below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and RX100 VA.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A230 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 VA will resolve more detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older A230 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography features
54
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
low MP (10MP)
66
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A230
Street photography with Sony RX100 VA
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
86
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A230
Sports photography with Sony RX100 VA
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low MP (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 shots)
70
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (220 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 VA Travel photography factors
45
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery (230 per charge)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
76
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A230
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 VA
51
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 shots)
no Timelapse function
66
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
81
pretty wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
doesn't have mic port
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Sony A230 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony RX100 VA
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-05-18 2018-07-13
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 10MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 pounds) 299g (0.66 pounds)
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 All around score 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 531 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 220 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $569 $998