Clicky

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Key Specs

Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2009
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Sony W230 versus Sony WX50, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and they are both built by Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and WX50 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The W230 was launched 3 years before the WX50 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the W230 scores vs the WX50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony WX50

 W230 WX50 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony W230

 WX50 W230 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2009More recent by 35 months
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony WX50

 W230 WX50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Sony W230 has outside measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony WX50 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Sony W230 versus Sony WX50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the W230 and the WX50.

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the W230 and WX50 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the W230 and WX50.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony WX50 to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older W230 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W230 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX50 Portrait photography highlights
27
you can focus manually
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
34
MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony W230
Street photography with Sony WX50
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Sony W230 Sports photography details
Sony WX50 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Sony W230 Travel photography features
Sony WX50 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (117g)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX50 Landscape photography highlights
36
you can focus manually
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
38
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX50 as a Vlogging camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
no mic jack
35
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sony W230 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony WX50
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-02-17 2012-01-30
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 30-120mm (4.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 4cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 156g (0.34 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 life - 240 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $180 $250