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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230

Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5R
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Sony NEX-5N and Sony W230, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the NEX-5N (16MP) and W230 (12MP) and the NEX-5N (APS-C) and W230 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The NEX-5N was announced 2 years after the W230 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the NEX-5N grades vs the W230 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony W230

 NEX-5N W230 
IntroducedOctober 2011February 2009More modern by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony NEX-5N

 W230 NEX-5N 

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony W230

 NEX-5N W230 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-5N comes with outside dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-5N and Sony W230 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the NEX-5N compared to the W230.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-5N and W230 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The pic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-5N and W230.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The NEX-5N having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will give you greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger NEX-5N will have an edge in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
Sony W230 Portrait photography features
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
27
manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Street photography features
Sony W230 Street photography features
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
boasts touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Sports photography factors
Sony W230 Sports photography factors
58
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography details
Sony W230 Travel photography details
70
good battery power (460 per charge)
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
71
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
36
manual focus
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Vlogging features
Sony W230 Vlogging features
33
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing mic socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony W230
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-10-03 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 156 gr (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1079 not tested
Other
Battery life 460 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $550 $180