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Sony W230 vs Sony A57

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 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 A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
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Sony W230 vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Sony W230 vs Sony A57, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are built by Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and A57 (16MP) and the W230 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The W230 was announced 4 years earlier than the A57 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony W230 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the W230 scores against the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A57

 W230 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony W230

 A57 W230 
IntroducedSeptember 2012February 2009More modern by 43 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony A57

 W230 A57 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony W230 offers exterior dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Sony W230 vs Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the W230 against the A57.

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the W230 and A57 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the W230 and A57.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The W230 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A57 will produce extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged W230 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony W230
Portrait photography with Sony A57
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W230 Street photography highlights
Sony A57 Street photography highlights
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony W230 Sports photography factors
Sony A57 Sports photography factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony W230 Travel photography details
Sony A57 Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 Landscape photography features
Sony A57 Landscape photography features
36
manual focus
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W230 Vlogging details
Sony A57 Vlogging details
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone support
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Sony W230 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony SLT-A57
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-02-17 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 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 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 30-120mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.8 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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 synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 156 gr (0.34 lbs) 618 gr (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life - 550 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $180 $1,000