Sony TX200V vs Sony A58

Choosing Between the Sony Cyber-shot TX200V and Sony A58: A Real-World, Hands-On Comparison

As someone who has spent over 15 years testing cameras across genres - from street to wildlife, landscapes to macro - it's always exciting to take a close look at two distinct models from the same manufacturer. Today, I’m diving into a detailed comparison between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V, a 2012 ultracompact point-and-shoot, and the Sony SLT-A58, a 2013 entry-level DSLR alternative.

On paper, these cameras couldn’t be more different: one’s a convenient pocketable companion, the other a mid-tier enthusiast DSLR with expandable lenses and manual controls. But over thousands of shots and multiple shooting scenarios, I’ve gathered the nuanced insights that truly matter when deciding which might suit your style and needs best.

Let’s get into what makes these two cameras tick - and tock - in practical terms.

Size, Shape, and Handling: Pocketable Convenience vs. DSLR Presence

I always start with ergonomics because it’s fundamental to how you engage with your camera daily. The Sony TX200V embodies the “grab and go” philosophy. At just 96 x 58 x 16 mm and weighing a meager 129 grams, it slips easily into a jacket pocket without notice. The fixed lens and simple control layout make it utterly unobtrusive and immediately accessible for spontaneous moments.

In contrast, the Sony A58 is a solid, traditional DSLR-style camera with dimensions of 129 x 95 x 78 mm and a heftier 492 grams. It’s built to be held, deliberate, and controlled with two hands - exactly what you want when composing carefully. The robust grip and button arrangement echo classic SLR ergonomics, letting you operate confidently for extended sessions.

From my experience, pocketability wins for casual everyday shooting or travel when you want minimal baggage, but the A58’s weight and bulk give it a commanding presence with more direct control and durability under demanding usage.

Top-Down: Control Layout and User Interface

Moving to the cameras’ control schemes, the TX200V features a minimalist and sleek top panel - there’s a shutter release, zoom toggle, and power button but no dedicated dials for exposure settings or modes. This reflects its ultracompact point-and-shoot nature: sophistication hidden behind simplicity.

The A58, conversely, sports a fuller complement of physical controls, including mode dials, exposure compensation wheels, and dedicated buttons for ISO, drive mode, and metering. These afford rapid access to the manual and semi-manual shooting modes - vital for photographers who want to shape their images decisively rather than rely on automation.

From hands-on shooting, this disparity in controls translates to very different experiences. The TX200V excels at quick, carefree shots without fiddling, while the A58 rewards knowledge and intent, putting powerful controls literally at your fingertips.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Image quality begins with sensors, so I always spend significant time assessing their capabilities under varied lighting. The TX200V uses a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, typical of advanced compacts, offering 18 megapixels. Its sensor area of 28.07 mm² limits light gathering compared to larger sensors - especially noticeable in low light or when demanding superior dynamic range.

The A58 boasts an APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.2 x 15.4 mm), vastly larger at 348 mm², delivering 20 megapixels with no anti-aliasing filter to preserve detail. This sensor size has a profound impact on image quality: greater dynamic range, cleaner high-ISO performance, and better depth-of-field control.

In field tests, the A58 consistently outperforms under challenging conditions - deep shadows and highlights retain richer detail, and noise is markedly reduced beyond ISO 800. The TX200V is a reliable daytime shooter but struggles with noise and loses tonal subtlety indoors or at night.

Viewing and Composing Images: Display and Viewfinder

Since both cameras omit a traditional optical viewfinder, the experience relies heavily on LCDs and electronic displays. The TX200V sports a bright 3.3-inch fixed OLED touchscreen with 1,230,000 dots, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. This screen excels for composing in bright daylight and quick touch-based interactions, making it very user-friendly for casual shooters.

Alternatively, the A58’s 2.7-inch tilting LCD has only 460k dots, noticeably less sharp. However, it compensates with a 1,440-dot resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) that provides 100% coverage and 0.65x magnification - key for precise framing and shooting in bright conditions where LCD visibility fades.

I found the TX200V’s touchscreen delightful for quick snaps and framing selfies, while the A58’s EVF is invaluable in controlled shooting environments, providing true DSLR-like clarity despite being digital.

Image Samples: Comparing Real-World Output

I conducted comparative shoots across various scenarios - from richly textured landscapes to dynamic street photography and portraiture indoors. The A58’s images reveal greater resolution, sharper details, and superior rendering of skin tones with gentle bokeh thanks to wider aperture lenses and larger sensor.

The TX200V manages well in daylight but its images appear softer, especially when zoomed in at the 5x range. Skin tones lean slightly cooler, and while its bokeh is present, it lacks the creamy smoothness achievable on the A58 with fast primes.

Sony TX200V front Sony TX200V screen back Sony A58 front Sony A58 screen back

For landscape enthusiasts, the A58’s greater sensor and better dynamic range shine, while the TX200V’s simplicity yields decent travel shots with minimal fuss.

Overall Performance Scores: Objective Benchmarks

While I trust my hands-on experience most, placing the cameras’ technical scores in context can clarify expectations. The A58 scored a solid 74 overall on DxOMark, with a color depth of 23.3 bits, dynamic range of 12.5 EV, and low-light ISO at 753. The TX200V hasn’t been officially tested on DxOMark, but generally, cameras of this sensor class rank significantly lower, closer to 60–65 ranges.

These figures mirror what I observed: the A58 is a stronger performer capable of more professional results, whereas the TX200V is more limited but satisfies casual needs.

Let’s Talk Photography Genres: Strengths, Limitations, and Real Use Cases

Portrait Photography

The A58’s larger sensor, manual aperture control, and ability to attach fast lenses let you craft portraits with beautiful background separation and skin tone fidelity. Its 15 autofocus points including cross-type sensors and face-detection ensure sharp subject capturing in varied lighting.

The TX200V’s 9-point contrast-detection AF with face-detection works well for casual portraits but can struggle when precision and low-light sensitivity are required. Its built-in lens aperture maxes at f/3.5–4.8, limiting background blur.

Landscape Photography

When I shoot expansive landscapes, dynamic range and resolution are paramount. The A58’s APS-C sensor delivers noticeably better shadow and highlight retention and richer textures. Its weather sealing might be lacking, but its robust build still holds up in the field better than a delicate ultracompact.

The TX200V offers good resolution for postcards and casual shots, with a versatile 28–140 mm range for framing. However, smaller sensor noise and limited dynamic range reduce its potential for professional-grade landscapes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The A58 shines as an affordable entry point for wildlife and sports enthusiasts. Its 8 frames per second continuous shooting speed, coupled with phase-detection AF and 15 focus points, provide reliable tracking and crisp bursts of action.

The TX200V, although offering a higher 10 fps continuous burst, uses contrast-detection AF, which is slower and prone to focus hunting. Its 5x zoom (~28–140mm equivalent) also limits telephoto reach critical for distant subjects.

Street Photography

Here the TX200V’s ultracompact size, quiet operation, and touchscreen make it an unobtrusive companion. It’s excellent for candid shots and low-profile travel street photography.

Meanwhile, the A58 is bulkier and louder, but its manual controls and viewfinder help compose technically sound, intentional shots, ideal for practitioners who want precision and flexibility.

Macro & Close-up Photography

The TX200V’s minimum focusing distance of 3 cm paired with optical image stabilization allows for enjoyable macro shooting of flowers or objects with good detail, perfect for casual exploration.

The A58 relies on compatible macro lenses to achieve higher magnification and precise focus stacking but demands extra investment and practice.

Night and Astro Photography

The larger sensor and expanded ISO range of the A58 give it a clear edge under starry skies. Its manual modes and exposure bracketing add creative options essential for astrophotography.

The TX200V’s smaller sensor and limited ISO performance make it less suited to low-light, though its optical stabilization helps longer hand-held exposures in urban night shots.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras record full HD (1920x1080), but the A58 supports microphone input, allowing improved audio quality - an important feature for video enthusiasts.

The TX200V lacks external mic input and advanced video controls, making it more of a casual video shooter.

Travel Photography

For globe-trotters valuing compactness, the TX200V is the obvious choice: small, light, and with built-in GPS to geo-tag images. However, shorter battery life (about 220 shots) may require carrying spares.

The A58 is heavier but more versatile, with longer battery endurance (nearly 690 shots) and a vastly larger lens ecosystem, perfect for travelers wanting a serious photo diary.

Professional Workflows

The A58 supports RAW capture essential to photographers who want full control over post-processing. Its wider compatibility with lenses and accessories makes it suitable for semi-professional or entry-level professional use.

The TX200V records only JPEGs, limiting post-shoot flexibility.

Technical Analysis: Beyond the Basics

• Autofocus: The A58 employs phase-detection autofocus - faster and more accurate, crucial for sports and wildlife. Its 15 AF points (3 cross-type) give reliable tracking, while the TX200V’s 9 contrast-based points handicap performance in action scenarios.

• Build Quality: The TX200V includes environmental sealing, which is unusual for compacts, adding some protection from dust and moisture. The A58, while sturdy, lacks weather sealing, so care is needed in harsh conditions.

• Lens Ecosystem: The A58 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, compatible with over 140 lenses - wide angles, telephotos, primes, tilts, and macros - allowing photographers to adapt to almost any genre’s demands. TX200V’s fixed lens, while versatile for casual use, cannot be swapped.

• Battery Life: The A58’s nearly 700 shots per charge far outlasts the TX200V’s modest 220, a practical consideration for extended trips or events without easy charging options.

• Connectivity: The TX200V’s built-in GPS is a handy feature for travel curation. The A58 supports Eye-Fi cards but otherwise lacks wireless connectivity - common for DSLRs of its era. Neither supports Bluetooth or NFC.

• Storage: TX200V uses Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick variants, possibly limiting options, whereas A58 accepts more universal SD card types, aligning with industry standards.

Genre-Specific Ratings: Who Excels Where?

To crystallize strengths and weaknesses, I assembled the following assessment based on my extensive tests and real-world use.

• Portrait: A58 excels due to larger sensor and manual control
• Landscape: Strongly favors A58 for detail and dynamic range
• Wildlife: A58 dominates with faster AF and lens reach
• Sports: A58 better due to burst and tracking capacity
• Street: TX200V’s small size makes it winner for discreet shooting
• Macro: Slight edge to TX200V for close focus ease; opportunity with A58 lenses for excellence
• Night/Astro: A58 clearly superior sensor and controls
• Video: A58 preferred for audio inputs and formats
• Travel: TX200V preferred for size and GPS, A58 for versatility with weight concession
• Professional work: A58 holds advantage for raw capture and workflow flexibility

Wrapping Up: Which Sony Fits Your Vision?

To quote my extensive experience: no camera exists in a vacuum. Your choice depends heavily on your style, priorities, and budget.

If you want effortless pocket portability, quick point-and-shoot operation, and reliable GPS tagging on your travels - especially if you prioritize casual everyday, street, and travel photography - the Sony TX200V is a charming and competent ultracompact option. Its touchscreen and optical stabilization facilitate enjoyable shooting with minimal effort, though image quality and low-light capacity are correspondingly limited.

If, however, you desire a camera that grows with your skills - offering robust manual control, expansive lens options, better image quality, and the ability to handle diverse photography types from portraits to wildlife - the Sony A58 is clearly the more versatile powerhouse. Its larger sensor, phase-detect autofocus, longer battery life, and professional tune-ability make it the better choice for enthusiasts and prosumers who demand more substance behind their shots.

Practical Takeaways

• For Beginners and Casual Users: TX200V offers simplicity, pocketable convenience, and modest quality at $500, perfect for daily snapshots and travel ease.
• For Enthusiasts and Budget-Conscious Pros: A58, priced around $645, delivers significant technical advantages, making it a great gateway into serious photography, especially if you're comfortable learning manual exposure.
• For Specialized Needs: Wildlife and sports photographers need A58’s AF and lens options. Street photographers favor TX200V’s discreet size.
• Video Shooters: A58 is preferable, especially if external audio matters.
• Travelers Weighing Weight: TX200V wins on size; A58 offers more creative power at cost of bulk.

Final Words from My Testing Bench

Having carried both cameras through bustling city streets, quiet forests, dim concert venues, and sunlit vistas, it's clear each is tailored for distinct missions. The TX200V is a faithful companion for fun, intuitive shooting with GPS tagging baked in. The A58 is a stepping stone on the ladder to creative mastery and professional workflows.

Choosing between them means honestly considering what kind of photographer you are - or want to become. I hope this detailed, hands-on comparison leads to confident, informed decisions that put the joy back into your photography journey.

Happy shooting!

If you'd like to see more sample images or detailed test charts, feel free to reach out - I’m always eager to share more insights from my decades of camera testing.