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Sony A230 vs Sony W730

Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 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
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Sony A230 vs Sony W730 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Sony A230 vs Sony W730, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and W730 (16MP) and the A230 (APS-C) and W730 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The A230 was announced 4 years earlier than the W730 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the A230 matches up against the W730 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Sony W730

 A230 W730 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony A230

 W730 A230 
RevealedJanuary 2013May 2009More recent by 44 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A230 and Sony W730

 A230 W730 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen size
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Sony A230 offers physical dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony W730 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

See the Sony A230 vs Sony W730 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the A230 compared to the W730.

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A230 and W730 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements merely by looking at specifications. The graphic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A230 and W730.

Plainly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A230 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony W730 will give you more detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older A230 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A230 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W730 as a Portrait photography camera
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (10 megapixels)
35
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A230 Street photography details
Sony W730 Street photography details
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
lighter than competition (122g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A230 Sports photography details
Sony W730 Sports photography details
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (230 shots)
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A230 Travel photography features
Sony W730 Travel photography features
45
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (230 per charge)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition (122g)
has touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A230 Landscape photography information
Sony W730 Landscape photography information
51
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
39
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A230 Vlogging advice
Sony W730 Vlogging advice
9
no video
34
rather wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competition (122 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
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Sony A230 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A230 and Sony W730
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-05-18 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" 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 240 images
Form 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 feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $569 $138