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Sony A290 vs Sony W230

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A230
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Sony A290 vs Sony W230, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. The image resolution of the A290 (14MP) and the W230 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the A290 (APS-C) and W230 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The A290 was brought out 16 months later than the W230 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the A290 grades versus the W230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Sony W230

 A290 W230 
LaunchedJune 2010February 2009More recent by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A290

 W230 A290 
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A290 and Sony W230

 A290 W230 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A290 comes with outer measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A290 vs Sony W230 in our brand new 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 are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the A290 and the W230.

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A290 and W230 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The visual here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A290 and W230.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A290 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A290 will give greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher A290 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A290
Portrait photography with Sony W230
65
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A290
Street photography with Sony W230
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A290 Sports photography info
Sony W230 Sports photography info
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (290 per charge)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A290 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W230 Landscape photography highlights
58
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
terrible battery (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
36
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic socket
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Sony A290 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A290 and Sony W230
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-06-09 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 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 549 grams (1.21 lbs) 156 grams (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 615 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $600 $180