Sony A230 vs Sony S980
69 Imaging
50 Features
40 Overall
46
94 Imaging
34 Features
17 Overall
27
Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Key Specs
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- 1280 x 720 video
- 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
- 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
- Released February 2009
Photography Glossary Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Overview
Let's look a little more closely at the Sony A230 vs Sony S980, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A230 (10MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very well matched but the A230 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe A230 was announced 3 months after the S980 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.
Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the A230 matches up against the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The whole galleries are available at Sony A230 Gallery & Sony S980 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony S980
| A230 | S980 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A230
| S980 | A230 |
|---|
Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony S980
| A230 | S980 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | May 2009 |  | February 2009 | Similar age |
| Manually focus |  | Very exact focus | ||
| Display type | Fixed |  | Fixed | Fixed display |
| Display dimension | 2.7" |  | 2.7" | Identical display size |
| Display resolution | 230k |  | 230k | Same display resolution |
| Selfie screen |  | Neither offers selfie screen | ||
| Touch display |  | Neither offers Touch display |
Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A230 offers external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).
Examine the Sony A230 vs Sony S980 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the A230 compared to the S980.
Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and S980 is 69 and 94 respectively.
Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The image below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A230 and S980.
As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A230 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Sony S980 will give you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.
Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneStreet Comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsSports Comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesTravel Comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthLandscape Comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsVlogging Comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
Sony A230 vs Sony S980 Specifications
| Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Sony | Sony |
| Model type | Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 |
| Class | Entry-Level DSLR | Small Sensor Compact |
| Introduced | 2009-05-18 | 2009-02-17 |
| Physical type | Compact SLR | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | Bionz | - |
| Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
| Sensor size | APS-C | 1/2.3" |
| Sensor measurements | 23.5 x 15.7mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
| Sensor area | 369.0mm² | 28.1mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 10 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 3872 x 2592 | 4000 x 3000 |
| Max native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 80 |
| RAW format | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Selective autofocus | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Autofocus live view | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Sony/Minolta Alpha | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | - | 33-132mm (4.0x) |
| Maximal aperture | - | f/3.3-5.2 |
| Macro focusing distance | - | 10cm |
| Amount of lenses | 143 | - |
| Crop factor | 1.5 | 5.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen sizing | 2.7 inches | 2.7 inches |
| Resolution of screen | 230k dots | 230k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch friendly | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | None |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | - |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 30 seconds | 2 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 3.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 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 |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Highest flash synchronize | 1/160 seconds | - |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
| Video file format | - | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 490 gr (1.08 lbs) | 167 gr (0.37 lbs) |
| 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 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 | - |
| Type of battery | Battery Pack | - |
| Battery ID | NP-FH50 | - |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Type of storage | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
| Card slots | One | One |
| Price at launch | $569 | $300 |