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Sony A230 vs Sony TX20

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Key Specs

Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Refreshed by Sony A290
Sony TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Sony A230 versus Sony TX20, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are created by Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and TX20 (16MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and TX20 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The A230 was launched 3 years prior to the TX20 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the A230 grades vs the TX20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony TX20

 A230 TX20 

Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Sony A230

 TX20 A230 
IntroducedFebruary 2012May 2009More modern by 33 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony TX20

 A230 TX20 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony A230 has got external dimensions 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 TX20 has specifications of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Sony A230 versus Sony TX20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the A230 vs the TX20.

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and TX20 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A230 and TX20.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A230 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony TX20 will show more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged A230 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Portrait photography camera
54
focusing manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (10MP)
40
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detection focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography advice
Sony TX20 Street photography advice
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography factors
Sony TX20 Sports photography factors
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)
bad battery power (230 per charge)
50
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (250 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A230
Travel photography with Sony TX20
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
72
better than average battery life (250 shots)
environment proof
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography information
Sony TX20 Landscape photography information
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no liveview
MP count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
52
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
better than average battery life (250 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX20 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Sony A230 vs Sony TX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony TX20
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-05-18 2012-02-28
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3872 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 133 grams (0.29 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 250 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $569 $330