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Sony W230 vs Sony A58

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
25
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
63
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 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
  • Launched February 2009
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony A57
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Sony W230 vs Sony A58 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Sony W230 vs Sony A58, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and A58 (20MP) and the W230 (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The W230 was launched 5 years prior to the A58 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony W230 being a Compact camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the W230 scores against the A58 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A58

 W230 A58 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony W230

 A58 W230 
LaunchedNovember 2013February 2009More recent by 58 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony A58

 W230 A58 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony W230 has outside dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony A58 has measurements of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") along with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Sony W230 vs Sony A58 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the W230 compared to the A58.

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the W230 and A58 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the W230 and A58.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The W230 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A58 will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older W230 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony W230
Portrait photography with Sony A58
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony W230 Street photography info
Sony A58 Street photography info
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony W230 Sports photography info
Sony A58 Sports photography info
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
81
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (690 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony W230 Travel photography features
Sony A58 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
63
great battery pack (690 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 Landscape photography details
Sony A58 Landscape photography details
37
focusing manually
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (690 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony W230
Vlogging with Sony A58
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Sony W230 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony A58
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony SLT-A58
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-17 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 30-120mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Min shutter speed 1s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 156 grams (0.34 pounds) 492 grams (1.08 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 753
Other
Battery life - 690 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer 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
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $180 $645