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Sony A390 vs Sony W230

Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Old Model is Sony A380
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released February 2009
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Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Sony A390 and Sony W230, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A390 (14MP) and the W230 (12MP) is very comparable but the A390 (APS-C) and W230 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The A390 was unveiled 18 months after the W230 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A390 matches up against the W230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Sony W230

 A390 W230 
ReleasedJuly 2010February 2009More modern by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A390

 W230 A390 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A390 and Sony W230

 A390 W230 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A390 provides physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Sony A390 and Sony W230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the A390 against the W230.

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A390 and W230 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The pic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A390 and W230.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A390 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Sony A390 will produce extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern A390 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A390 Portrait photography details
Sony W230 Portrait photography details
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
Sony W230 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A390
Travel photography with Sony W230
53
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery power (230 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A390
Landscape photography with Sony W230
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
bad battery power (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
36
manual focus
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A390 Vlogging factors
Sony W230 Vlogging factors
9
no video
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Sony A390 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A390 and Sony W230
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-07-28 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus range - 4cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 549 grams (1.21 pounds) 156 grams (0.34 pounds)
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 score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 607 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $500 $180