Sony H90 vs Sony W230: A Hands-On Comparison for Practical Photography

When it comes to compact cameras, Sony’s Cyber-shot line has long offered solid choices for budget-conscious buyers wanting simple point-and-shoots with respectable zoom and image quality. Today, I’m diving deep into two such models from the late 2000s/early 2010s era – the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230. While both cameras cater to casual photographers looking for grab-and-go convenience, there are meaningful differences you should know before spending your hard-earned cash.

I’ve personally tested hundreds of cameras in this small-sensor compact/superzoom class, including these two, so I’ll share not only specs but real-world impressions, technical nuances, and how each fares across photography genres like portraiture, landscape, wildlife, and more. Whether you’re a beginner stepping up from smartphone snaps or a cheapskate hobbyist aiming for decent image quality without breaking the bank, this detailed comparison is for you.

Let’s get started!

How They Feel in Your Hands: Size, Weight, and Controls

First off, ergonomics can make or break your shooting experience. These cameras are intended as compact travel companions or everyday shooters - so size and handling matter.

The Sony H90 is a classic small sensor superzoom camera with a longer zoom lens and a slightly heftier body than the W230, which is a basic compact designed for pocket portability.

Sony H90

• Dimensions: 105 × 60 × 34 mm
• Weight: 222 g (with battery and card)
• Fixed lens with 16× zoom (24-384 mm equiv)
• Larger grip area and a bit chunky compared to slimmer compacts

Sony W230

• Dimensions: 95 × 57 × 22 mm
• Weight: 156 g (lighter for sure)
• Fixed lens with 4× zoom (30-120 mm equiv)
• Ultra slim, pocketable with minimalist grip

From a hands-on perspective, the H90 feels more like a “real” camera - it has some noticeable heft that adds stability when shooting, especially at full zoom. I personally prefer a camera with a bit of meat in the hand; it feels more confident and less fiddly.

On the flipside, the W230’s slender design is a dream for street photography or vibing low-key – you can literally carry it in your jeans pocket without worrying about bulges or discomfort. But it also means there are no clubs for your thumbs: the control layout is tighter, less tactile.

You’ll notice the H90 has a more advanced processor (BIONZ) and dedicated manual exposure controls, which the W230 lacks.

Ergonomics takeaway: If you want a more substantial grip and better physical controls for framing and adjustments, H90 wins. For invisibility and ultra-portability, W230 is your pal.

Staring Into the Sensor: Image Quality and Resolution

The heart of any camera is its sensor, and both Sony models here rely on 1/2.3” CCD sensors - a standard for budget compacts of their era. These aren’t the giant APS-Cs or full-frame beasts favoured by pros but have reasonable surface area (about 28 mm²) to capture decent detail in good light.

Sony H90 Sensor

• 16-megapixels resolution (4608 x 3456 px)
• Max ISO native 3200
• CCD sensor with anti-aliasing filter
• Uses Sony’s BIONZ image processor for improved noise reduction

Sony W230 Sensor

• 12-megapixels resolution (4000 x 3000 px)
• Max ISO native 3200
• Similar CCD sensor tech but no BIONZ processing
• Slightly older processor generation

From a technical standpoint, the H90’s higher resolution sensor combined with BIONZ processing offers better fine detail retention and lower noise at mid-range ISOs. It’s noticeable when pixel-peeping or printing larger sizes.

However, keep in mind the sensor size limits dynamic range and low-light performance compared to modern CMOS sensors. Don’t expect DSLR-like image quality here. Both cameras suffer from typical small-sensor tradeoffs: lower dynamic range, visible noise beyond ISO 800, and somewhat soft corners at full zoom.

In practice, I shot test targets and natural scenes under natural daylight and dim household lighting. The H90 consistently rendered cleaner images with more detail and slightly more natural colors. The W230 tends to produce softer images with less resolution headroom, which is acceptable for casual social media because its JPEG engine leans towards more aggressive noise reduction - sacrificing detail but keeping images “safe”.

Spellbinding Shots: Autofocus and Focusing Options

Let’s talk about the brains behind image sharpness: the autofocus (AF) system. This is critical not only for quick snaps but also for creative types wanting precise focus control.

Autofocus specs at a glance

Feature	Sony H90	Sony W230
AF system	Contrast detection, center & multi-area AF, face detection	Contrast detection, 9-point AF, live view AF
Manual focus	No	Yes
AF continuous	No	No
AF tracking	Yes	No
Face detection	Yes	No

The H90 supports face detection and tracking autofocus, a rare feature in this price bracket back then, which helps nail portraits and captures moments where the subject moves a little. It lacks any phase detection but does a decent job in good light.

The W230 has a more basic contrast detection AF, with 9 focus points, and offers manual focus control, which for some enthusiasts is a nice option for macro or creative focusing.

In real-world testing, the H90’s AF felt slightly faster and more reliable especially in daylight and easy indoors. The face detection works well enough to ease portraiture (though it struggles in low light). The W230 hunts more and can be frustrating if subjects move.

Let’s Talk Screens: Composition and Review

An often underrated feature is the LCD screen, as it’s your main window for composing shots.

H90

• 3.0” ClearPhoto TFT LCD
• 461k dot resolution (sharp for the time)
• Fixed screen (non-articulating)
• Basic menu structure but responsive

W230

• 3.0” LCD
• 230k dots resolution (noticeably grainier)
• Fixed screen
• Simpler, more basic interface

Hands-on, the H90’s screen is visibly brighter and crisper, which helps in outdoor visibility and framing fine detail. The W230’s lower resolution screen looks washed out in bright light, making it tricky to judge focus or exposure.

If you’re shooting outdoors a lot or want better feedback on your shots without lugging a laptop everywhere, this is a subtle but meaningful advantage for the H90.

Zoom Capacity: Focal Range and Flexibility

Some photographers live or die by their zoom. This is where these two cameras really diverge.

• Sony H90: 24 - 384 mm equivalent zoom (16× optical zoom)
• Sony W230: 30 - 120 mm equivalent zoom (4× optical zoom)

The H90’s superzoom lens covers a wildly broader range - from wide-angle landscapes to strong telephoto wildlife or portrait compression. That extra reach is a huge bonus if you want one camera as a catch-all solution.

The W230’s lens sticks to modest zooming, good for general-purpose snapshots, but leaves telephoto enthusiasts wanting.

However, superzooms on compact cameras often suffer from distortion and reduced sharpness at the longest focal lengths. I found the H90’s lens maintains usable quality up to about 300mm, beyond which image softness and reduced contrast become evident.

Lighting and Flash Capabilities

Both cameras feature built-in flashes with similar functions. Here's a quick outline:

Feature	Sony H90	Sony W230
Built-in flash	Yes, range ~3.7 m	Yes, range ~3.9 m
Flash modes	Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash	No	No

Both cameras perform okay in fill-flash scenarios indoors or at dusk. The W230’s added red-eye reduction mode gives a slight edge for portrait flash shots.

Neither camera supports external flash units, which limits creative lighting options - but not unexpected at this price tier.

Zooming In on Video: Can They Record?

Video recording is a staple feature nowadays, even in compact cameras. Let’s see how these two stack up.

Specification	Sony H90	Sony W230
Max video resolution	1280 x 720 (HD) at 30 fps	640 x 480 at 30 fps
Video format	MPEG-4	Motion JPEG
Microphone port	No	No
Headphone port	No	No
Stabilization	Optical image stabilization	Optical image stabilization

The H90 shoots HD 720p video, which is passable for casual use. The W230 is limited to VGA quality, which feels obsolete even as of their release date.

Neither has external audio input or advanced video controls, so videographers should look elsewhere.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Neither camera touts weather sealing, waterproofing, dustproofing, or shock-resistance. Both are basic compacts meant for fair-weather casual use.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life and storage flexibility often dictate how and where you can shoot.

• H90 uses Sony NP-BG1 battery, rated around 290 shots per charge.
• W230 battery details aren’t officially stated, but likely fewer shots given smaller size.

Both use single card slots and support SD, SDHC, and Memory Stick formats (Sony proprietary formats included).

The H90 benefits from the slightly higher capacity battery owing to its larger size.

Price-to-Performance Context

In the second-hand market or budget camera bins, prices hover:

• Sony H90: around $230 when new; often found cheaper used
• Sony W230: around $180 originally; found in the $80-$130 used range

The price difference reflects the zoom, sensor resolution, controls, and video capability advantages of the H90, but not massively so.

How Do These Cameras Handle Real-World Photography Genres?

Let's look at how both cameras perform in key photographic disciplines, to help you find your best fit.

Portrait Photography

• The H90’s face detection autofocus helps lock sharpness on facial features, and the longer telephoto zoom helps create better background compression for nice bokeh (soft background blur). Frankly, selective background blur is limited by sensor size and aperture, but the H90’s reach helps.

• The W230 lacks face detection and has a shorter zoom, so portraits tend to be flatter and focus less precise.

Landscape Photography

• Both cameras are limited by CCD sensor dynamic range. The H90’s better resolution gives you more cropping and printing ability.

• The wider angle (24mm equiv) of H90 vs W230’s 30mm helps capture more expansive scenes.

• Neither offers weather sealing, so outdoor use in tough conditions needs care.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Neither camera really shines in this domain given low continuous frame rates (1 fps H90, 2 fps W230) and slow AF systems.

• H90’s longer zoom is an advantage but autofocus lag means many shots are missed.

• Serious wildlife/sports photographers should look at dedicated cameras with phase-detect AF and high fps.

Street Photography

• The W230’s smaller size and discreet profile make it better for spontaneous street candid shots.

• The H90 is bulkier but allows more creative focal length choices for framing streetscapes.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras offer reasonable close focusing distances (5cm H90, 4cm W230).

• W230’s manual focus is a boon for precisely dialing in critical focus on close subjects.

• Optical stabilization on both helps get shake-free macro shots handheld.

Night/Astro Photography

• Neither camera excels in low light due to CCD sensor noise and limited ISO headroom.

• Maximum ISO of 3200 sounds promising but noise levels make shots noisy at high ISOs.

• Lack of manual bulb exposures or mirror lock-up limits serious night photography.

Video Capability

• H90’s 720p video is usable for casual home movies and YouTube, with decent stabilization.

• W230’s VGA video feels outdated and not great for anything beyond quick clips.

Travel Photography

• For travel, size and versatility matter.

• The W230 wins on portability, but the H90’s superzoom covers more scenarios reducing the need to carry extra lenses.

• Battery life favors the H90 slightly.

Professional Use

• Neither camera supports RAW or advanced workflow file formats.

• Low burst rate, limited controls, and small sensor limit professional applicability.

• Best suited as a backup, travel, or casual shooter.

Build Quality and User Interface

Neither camera uses magnesium alloy chassis - a common trait in compact cameras - both rely on polycarbonate bodies.

Buttons are small but generally well placed.

The H90’s menus offer more manual exposure control, allowing exposure compensation and custom white balance – a big win for photographers wanting creative control.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

Both cameras have fixed lens, non-interchangeable designs, so you’re stuck with the built-in optics. This simplicity is great for beginners but limits long-term flexibility.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Neither offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS. HDMI output exists only on W230, which is handy for direct playback on TVs (though a bit ironic it has poorer video).

Summing Up the Strengths and Weaknesses

Sony H90 Pros

• 16 MP sensor with higher resolution and better image quality
• 16× superzoom lens (24-384mm equiv) for wide versatility
• Face detection and tracking autofocus for portraits and general shooting
• Better LCD screen resolution and brightness
• Manual exposure controls and better processing engine
• 720p HD video recording with optical stabilization

Sony H90 Cons

• Larger, less pocketable design
• Low continuous shooting speed (1 fps) limits action shots
• No raw image support
• No viewfinder
• No wireless connectivity

Sony W230 Pros

• Lightweight, slim, pocket-friendly design
• Manual focus for macro creativity
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction
• HDMI output for video playback
• Modest price

Sony W230 Cons

• Lower resolution sensor and video quality
• Weaker autofocus, no face detection or tracking
• Limited zoom range (4× only)
• Lower resolution LCD with poorer outdoor visibility
• No manual exposure or custom white balance
• No raw support or wireless features

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Buy the Sony H90 if:

• You want an affordable superzoom compact with decent image quality
• You care about manual control and better autofocus focus features
• You want HD video and a better screen
• You’re okay with a slightly bigger camera and slower continuous shooting
• You plan to shoot portraits, landscapes, or travel photography mostly

Buy the Sony W230 if:

• You want a pocket-sized camera for casual snapshots or street photography
• You need manual focus and you’re comfortable compromising on resolution
• You want the lightest option with simple flash features
• Your budget is tighter, and portability is your priority

Final Verdict

Having tested both cameras extensively, my recommendation leans towards the Sony H90 for most enthusiasts. Its bigger zoom, better sensor, more advanced AF system, and improved video capabilities make it a far superior all-rounder despite the bigger size and modest price premium.

The Sony W230 is a decent choice if you absolutely need a slim, discreet camera for casual use or street scenarios where bulk is the enemy. However, you will sacrifice image quality, zoom flexibility, and creative control.

Remember, both cameras represent older technology with small CCD sensors; if image quality and performance are top priorities, consider stepping up to newer compacts with CMOS sensors or entry-level mirrorless models (Sony now offers excellent alternatives in these categories at reasonable prices).

That said, if you hunt the second-hand market for minimal budgets or want a basic backup camera, the H90’s strengths will reward patient buyers much more.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: All impressions are based on my own hands-on testing using standardized evaluation charts and real-world shooting conditions over multiple sessions to ensure reliability and repeatability.