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Sony W230 vs Sony A99

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 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
  • Announced February 2009
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Sony W230 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here is a extended analysis of the Sony W230 vs Sony A99, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both sold by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the W230 (12MP) and A99 (24MP) and the W230 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The W230 was announced 4 years prior to the A99 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony W230 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the W230 matches up against the A99 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Sony A99

 W230 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony W230

 A99 W230 
RevealedDecember 2012February 2009Fresher by 46 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony W230 and Sony A99

 W230 A99 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony W230 features physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Examine the Sony W230 vs Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the W230 and the A99.

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the W230 and A99 is 95 and 57 respectively.

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by reading specifications. The graphic here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the W230 and A99.

Plainly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The W230 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A99 will offer extra detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively. The older W230 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W230 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W230 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
27
manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
81
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony W230 Street photography information
Sony A99 Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W230 Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W230 Landscape photography information
Sony A99 Landscape photography information
36
manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery pack (500 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony W230
Vlogging with Sony A99
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
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Sony W230 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W230 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 Sony SLT-A99
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-02-17 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 30-120mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m no built-in flash
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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 seconds
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, 24 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
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Price at release $180 $1,998