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Sony W230 vs Sony A55

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 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
  • Released February 2009
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony A57
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Sony W230 vs Sony A55 Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Sony W230 vs Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the W230 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The W230 was unveiled 18 months earlier than the A55 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony W230 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the W230 matches up versus the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A55

 W230 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony W230

 A55 W230 
AnnouncedAugust 2010February 2009Newer by 18 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony A55

 W230 A55 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony W230 provides outer measurements 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 A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Sony W230 vs Sony A55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the W230 vs the A55.

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the W230 and A55 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out specifications. The picture below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the W230 and A55.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The W230 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A55 will produce greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged W230 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony W230
Portrait photography with Sony A55
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony W230 as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony W230
Sports photography with Sony A55
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W230 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (380 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
36
you can focus manually
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
67
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low battery pack (380 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W230 Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic port
78
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic port
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Sony W230 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony SLT-A55
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-02-17 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 30-120mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 4cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 156 grams (0.34 pounds) 500 grams (1.10 pounds)
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 Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $180 $800