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Sony H50 vs Sony W230

Portability
69
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Sony H50
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-465mm (F2.7-4.5) lens
  • 547g - 116 x 81 x 86mm
  • Released January 2009
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 H50 vs Sony W230 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony H50 versus Sony W230, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the H50 (9MP) and W230 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The H50 was announced at a similar time to the W230 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the H50 scores versus the W230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony H50 over the Sony W230

 H50 W230 

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony H50

 W230 H50 

Common features in the Sony H50 and Sony W230

 H50 W230 
IntroducedJanuary 2009February 2009Similar generation
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Sony H50 features exterior dimensions of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") with a weight of 547 grams (1.21 lbs) and 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 the Sony H50 versus Sony W230 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the H50 versus the W230.

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the H50 and W230 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The picture here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the H50 and W230.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony W230 to give extra detail with its extra 3MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively.

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H50 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony H50 Portrait photography information
Sony W230 Portrait photography information
27
focusing manually
no external flash support
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony H50 Street photography advice
Sony W230 Street photography advice
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (547g)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony H50 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
32
excellent zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony H50 Travel photography advice
Sony W230 Travel photography advice
44
has built in flash
very long reach (465mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (547g)
megapixel count low (9MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony H50 Landscape photography factors
Sony W230 Landscape photography factors
34
focusing manually
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
36
manual focus
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony H50 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
19
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (547 grams)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
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Sony H50 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H50 and Sony W230
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-01-15 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 9 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3456 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-465mm (15.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.7-4.5 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 1s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480, 30 fps, 320 x 240, 8 fps 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 547g (1.21 lbs) 156g (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 81 x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID NP-BG1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $80 $180