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Sony A230 vs Sony W650

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A200
  • Updated by Sony A290
Sony W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Sony A230 vs Sony W650 Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Sony A230 and Sony W650, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and W650 (16MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and W650 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The A230 was introduced 3 years prior to the W650 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A230 scores against the W650 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony W650

 A230 W650 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Sony A230

 W650 A230 
LaunchedJanuary 2012May 2009Newer by 32 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony W650

 A230 W650 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A230 has outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony W650 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Sony A230 and Sony W650 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the A230 and the W650.

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A230 and W650 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the A230 and W650.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A230 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony W650 will give more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged A230 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 Portrait photography information
Sony W650 Portrait photography information
54
focusing manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 as a Street photography camera
Sony W650 as a Street photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (124 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography info
Sony W650 Sports photography info
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography advice
Sony W650 Travel photography advice
45
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (230 shots)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (124g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography advice
Sony W650 Landscape photography advice
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
43
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging advice
Sony W650 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
33
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competition (124g)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Sony A230 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony W650
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-05-18 2012-01-10
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz 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 area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
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 gr (1.08 lb) 124 gr (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 photographs 220 photographs
Battery form 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 feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $569 $140