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Sony W230 vs Sony WX500

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2009
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
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Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Sony W230 vs Sony WX500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The W230 was brought out 7 years earlier than the WX500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the W230 scores against the WX500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony WX500

 W230 WX500 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony W230

 WX500 W230 
RevealedApril 2015February 2009Fresher by 74 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony WX500

 W230 WX500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Sony W230 has got external dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the W230 compared to the WX500.

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the W230 and WX500 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by checking out specs. The visual underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the W230 and WX500.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Sony WX500 to produce greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older W230 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W230 Portrait photography features
Sony WX500 Portrait photography features
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
39
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony W230 Street photography highlights
Sony WX500 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony W230 Sports photography details
Sony WX500 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (360 per charge)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony W230 Travel photography details
Sony WX500 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX500 Landscape photography highlights
36
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
49
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
good battery life (360 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W230 Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no mic support
35
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
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Sony W230 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony WX500
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-02-17 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-120mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 156 gr (0.34 lb) 236 gr (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $180 $348