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Sony S930 vs Sony A35

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
56
Features
70
Overall
61

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Key Specs

Sony S930
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 38-108mm (F2.9-5.4) lens
  • 167g - 90 x 61 x 26mm
  • Launched January 2009
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A33
  • Successor is Sony A37
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Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Sony S930 and Sony A35, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are created by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the S930 (10MP) and A35 (16MP) and the S930 (1/2.3") and A35 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The S930 was announced 3 years earlier than the A35 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony S930 being a Compact camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the S930 grades versus the A35 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony S930 over the Sony A35

 S930 A35 

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Sony S930

 A35 S930 
ReleasedSeptember 2011January 2009Fresher by 32 months
Screen size3"2.4"Bigger screen (+0.6")
Screen resolution921k112kSharper screen (+809k dot)

Common features in the Sony S930 and Sony A35

 S930 A35 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony S930 has got physical dimensions of 90mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony A35 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

See the Sony S930 and Sony A35 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the S930 compared to the A35.

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the S930 and A35 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the S930 and A35.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The S930 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A35 will show extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older S930 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S930 Portrait photography info
Sony A35 Portrait photography info
26
focusing manually
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony S930
Street photography with Sony A35
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
71
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (415g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony S930 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A35 as a Sports photography camera
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (440 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony S930 Travel photography features
Sony A35 Travel photography features
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
58
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (440 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony S930 Landscape photography features
Sony A35 Landscape photography features
31
focusing manually
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
screen is small (2.4 inch)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
69
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
bad battery pack (440 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony S930
Vlogging with Sony A35
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (320 x 240 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
36
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
lighter than competition in class (415g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Sony S930 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S930 and Sony A35
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 Sony SLT-A35
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-01-08 2011-09-20
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 38-108mm (2.8x) -
Largest aperture f/2.9-5.4 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.4" 3"
Screen resolution 112 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 1/8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 320x240 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 pounds) 415 grams (0.91 pounds)
Physical dimensions 90 x 61 x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 763
Other
Battery life - 440 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / PRo-HG Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $219 $598