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Sony a3500 vs Sony W230

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
25
Overall
31

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony A3000
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Sony a3500 and Sony W230, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the a3500 (20MP) and W230 (12MP) and the a3500 (APS-C) and W230 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The a3500 was launched 5 years later than the W230 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the a3500 scores against the W230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony W230

 a3500 W230 
AnnouncedMarch 2014February 2009More recent by 62 months

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony a3500

 W230 a3500 

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony W230

 a3500 W230 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony a3500 enjoys outside measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) while 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).

Check out the Sony a3500 and Sony W230 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the a3500 against the W230.

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the a3500 and W230 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the a3500 and W230.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The a3500 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony a3500 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer a3500 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W230 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony a3500
Street photography with Sony W230
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
60
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery life (470 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography details
Sony W230 Travel photography details
60
great battery life (470 shots)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a3500 Landscape photography advice
Sony W230 Landscape photography advice
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (470 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
37
you can focus manually
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a3500 Vlogging advice
Sony W230 Vlogging advice
26
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic jack
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Sony a3500 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony W230
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha a3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-03-21 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ image -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5456 x 3632 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 16000 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 30-120mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 411g (0.91 lb) 156g (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 470 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $398 $180