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Sony S930 vs Sony A99

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony S930
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 38-108mm (F2.9-5.4) lens
  • 167g - 90 x 61 x 26mm
  • Revealed January 2009
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Sony S930 vs Sony A99, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are designed by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the S930 (10MP) and A99 (24MP) and the S930 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor size.

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The S930 was brought out 4 years earlier than the A99 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony S930 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the S930 matches up versus the A99 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony S930 over the Sony A99

 S930 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony S930

 A99 S930 
AnnouncedDecember 2012January 2009More recent by 47 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.4"Bigger screen (+0.6")
Screen resolution1229k112kClearer screen (+1117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony S930 and Sony A99

 S930 A99 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony S930 features outside dimensions of 90mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Sony S930 vs Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the S930 compared to the A99.

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S930 and A99 is 94 and 57 respectively.

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The photograph below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the S930 and A99.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S930 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A99 will give you greater detail having its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older S930 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S930 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
26
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
81
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony S930 as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony S930 Sports photography factors
Sony A99 Sports photography factors
24
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony S930 Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
50
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
60
environment proofing
good resolution (24MP)
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony S930
Landscape photography with Sony A99
31
you can focus manually
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is small (2.4 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
bad battery pack (500 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S930 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (320 x 240 resolution)
missing external mic jack
76
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
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Sony S930 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S930 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 Sony SLT-A99
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-01-08 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 38-108mm (2.8x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.9-5.4 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.4" 3"
Resolution of display 112k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 1/8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 320x240 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lbs) 812 grams (1.79 lbs)
Dimensions 90 x 61 x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / PRo-HG Duo, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $219 $1,998