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Sony A230 vs Sony S950

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 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
  • Previous Model is Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Sony A230 and Sony S950, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. The resolution of the A230 (10MP) and the S950 (10MP) is relatively close but the A230 (APS-C) and S950 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The A230 was introduced 3 months later than the S950 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A230 scores versus the S950 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony S950

 A230 S950 

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony A230

 S950 A230 

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony S950

 A230 S950 
AnnouncedMay 2009February 2009Same age
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen size
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 offers outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Sony S950 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Sony A230 and Sony S950 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the A230 compared to the S950.

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and S950 is 69 and 94 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The visual underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and S950.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The A230 has got the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF easier.

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S950 as a Portrait photography camera
54
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (10 megapixels)
26
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A230
Street photography with Sony S950
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography information
Sony S950 Sports photography information
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
low battery power (230 shots)
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography details
Sony S950 Travel photography details
45
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery power (230 shots)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A230
Landscape photography with Sony S950
51
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (10MP)
low battery power (230 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
31
focusing manually
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging info
Sony S950 Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
9
can't record video
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Sony A230 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony S950
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-05-18 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3872 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 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
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $569 $130