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Sony W230 vs Sony A37

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 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
  • Revealed February 2009
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released May 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A35
Photography Glossary

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 Overview

Lets look closer at the Sony W230 versus Sony A37, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are offered by Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the W230 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The W230 was launched 4 years earlier than the A37 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony W230 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the W230 scores vs the A37 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A37

 W230 A37 
Display sizing3"2.6"Larger display (+0.4")

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Sony W230

 A37 W230 
ReleasedMay 2012February 2009Fresher by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony A37

 W230 A37 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Sony W230 features outside dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A37 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony W230 versus Sony A37 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the W230 and the A37.

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the W230 and A37 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by researching specs. The graphic underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the W230 and A37.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The W230 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A37 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The older W230 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W230 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A37 Portrait photography highlights
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W230 as a Street photography camera
Sony A37 as a Street photography camera
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony W230 Sports photography factors
Sony A37 Sports photography factors
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A37 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (500 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 Landscape photography features
Sony A37 Landscape photography features
36
focusing manually
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
64
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.6 inches)
bad battery (500 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W230 Vlogging advice
Sony A37 Vlogging advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Sony W230 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony A37
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony SLT-A37
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-02-17 2012-05-16
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 30-120mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.8 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.6 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 156 gr (0.34 lb) 506 gr (1.12 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $180 $522