Sony W730 vs Sony A37: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Sony Cameras from Different Worlds

In the crowded landscape of Sony cameras, two models that couldn’t be farther apart in design and intent are the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 and the Sony SLT-A37. One is an entry-level compact point-and-shoot aimed at casual users, while the other is a serious entry-level DSLR alternative targeting enthusiasts ready to explore creative photography more deeply.

Having tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years as a professional reviewer, I’ve spent hours behind the W730’s simple interface as well as the A37’s dials and menus. The goal here is to provide an exhaustive, experienced-based evaluation covering everything from technical specs to actual shooting scenarios. Whether you’re a beginner wanting an all-in-one pocket camera or a step-up shooter eyeing a hybrid DSLR, this detailed comparison will give you the clarity you need before making a purchase decision.

Let’s delve right into it.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

When you physically compare the two, the difference in size and handling is immediately apparent.

The W730 is a diminutive 93x52x22 mm and weighs a mere 122 grams. This ultra-portability underscores its design intention as a grab-and-go camera that fits easily in any pocket - truly a "point and shoot". Its plastic build and minimalistic controls reflect cost savings but keep weight and bulk at a minimum.

Meanwhile, the A37 tips the scales at 506 grams with dimensions 124x92x85 mm, offering a much more substantial, DSLR-style grip and reflex mirror body. The larger form factor accommodates a bigger sensor, myriad manual controls, and a fully articulated viewfinder system.

The top view comparison shows how the A37 is loaded with command dials, a hot shoe, and buttons catering to manual exposure, shooting modes, and flash control. Conversely, the W730’s top panel sticks to basic shutter and zoom controls with touchscreen input for settings. This reveals clearly the divide in user control philosophy - simplicity versus manual mastery.

My take:
If pocketability and casual, one-handed snapping are your priorities, the W730 excels. But if you want more control, greater ergonomic comfort during extended shoots, and a system ready to grow with you, the A37’s heft and layout are a better fit.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Size matters in sensors - it’s the cornerstone of image quality. Here, these two cameras are on drastically different planes.

The Sony W730 employs a tiny 1/2.3" 16MP CCD sensor (6.17x4.55mm). This sensor size is typical for compacts and is apt for print sizes up to 8x10 inches in good light. However, it severely limits dynamic range, low-light capability, and depth of field control. The CCD sensor excels at color fidelity but struggles with noise at higher ISOs.

On the other hand, the A37 features a significantly larger APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6mm), also at 16MP resolution. This sensor is essentially double in linear size (about 28mm diagonal vs 8mm) and boasts roughly 13 times the surface area of the W730’s sensor. The benefits are enormous: much better dynamic range, greater color depth, cleaner high ISO performance, and smoother tonal gradations.

Sony’s choice here - CCD vs CMOS - is telling too. CMOS technology on the A37 allows for faster readout speeds (important in burst mode and video), more advanced on-sensor phase-detection AF points, and generally better power efficiency.

Hands-on insight:
Shooting side by side, the A37’s images reveal cleaner shadows, enhanced highlight retention, and overall crisper detail, especially in raw files. Its 16MP resolution paired with APS-C sensor size strikes a good balance between file size and image quality. The W730’s JPEG files are fine for social media or casual prints but start to suffer under heavy cropping or on larger displays.

LCD Screens and User Interface

Both cameras have 2.6-2.7 inch screens with roughly 230k-dot resolution, but their designs and usages differ.

The W730 sports a fixed 2.7” touchscreen - an advantage in casual modes where touch-to-focus and menu navigation are intuitive. The color and brightness are sufficient for bright daylight but viewing angles can be restrictive.

In contrast, the A37 features a 2.6” tilting LCD which I found invaluable for shooting at odd angles and capturing low or high viewpoints without contorting. Unfortunately, it does not have touchscreen capabilities but offers more tactile buttons and dials to compensate, speeding up manual adjustments once you learn the layout.

From a usability standpoint, despite the complexity of the A37’s menu system, its physical controls keep operation efficient during fast-paced shooting. Meanwhile, the W730’s touchscreen limits quick exposure tweaking but is friendlier to beginners.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus is where these cameras reveal their true intents.

• The W730 uses a contrast-detection AF system with face detection. It has limited AF points (center-weighted focus with some multi-area modes) and no phase detection. The autofocus speed is modest - perfect for still subjects and casual snaps but frustrating in action.

• The A37 boasts a 15-point phase detection autofocus system with 3 cross-type sensors that delivers crisp focus lock in daylight and indoor conditions. It supports continuous and single AF modes but lacks tracking AF for moving subjects, which is a limitation for sports.

More importantly, the A37’s autofocus system performs quickly with Sony A-mount lenses and can switch seamlessly between AF modes. Its eye-detection AF works moderately well, though it predates modern AI face/eye detection sophistication.

In real use, the W730’s focusing can hunt in low light and struggles to follow moving subjects, while the A37 nails focus faster and more reliably, making it a better option if you want some action photography chops.

Lens Systems and Flexibility

One of the biggest differences is the fixed versus interchangeable lenses.

• The W730 comes with a built-in 25–224mm equivalent zoom (9x optical), aperture ranging from f/3.3 to f/6.3. It covers moderate wide to super-telephoto range in a compact package and includes optical image stabilization.

• The A37 features a Sony/Minolta Alpha mount supporting a huge ecosystem of 143 native and third-party lenses (from ultra-wide primes to heavy-duty telephoto zooms), not including manual adapters.

This translates to enormous creative freedom for the A37 user - macro, tilt-shift, fast apertures for shallow depth-of-field, specialized wildlife telephoto lenses, super telephoto sports glass, and more.

The fixed lens on the W730 is versatile but ultimately limiting if you want to explore photography genres seriously.

Recommendation:
If you’re just getting started or want a single camera for everyday family snaps, the W730’s built-in zoom works fine. For anyone interested in expanding their creative toolkit or shooting demanding subjects, the A37’s lens flexibility is a major advantage.

Performance in Different Photography Genres

A critical aspect for many readers is how these cameras perform across real-world photography scenarios. Let’s break down the key genres:

Portrait Photography

• W730: The limited sensor size and aperture range constrain the ability to achieve natural, creamy bokeh and shallow depth of field. Face detection AF and exposure do well in automatic modes, resulting in decent skin tones under good lighting but less control overall.

• A37: Its larger sensor and compatibility with fast, wide-aperture lenses allow for striking portraits with smooth subject isolation. Manual controls and raw support provide creative latitude to nail exposure and color. Eye detection AF aids focus on crucial points.

Landscape Photography

• W730: Despite 16MP resolution, smaller dynamic range and limited ISO flexibility hamper shadow detail retrieval and highlight roll-off. No weather sealing restricts outdoor use in harsh conditions.

• A37: Excels with a wide dynamic range (~13 stops), high resolution raw files, and sensor stability for sharp images using tripods and remote releases. While no professional weather sealing is present, its more robust build fares better in varied conditions.

Wildlife Photography

• W730: Limited burst speed (1fps), slow autofocus, and modest lens zoom limit its utility for moving subjects.

• A37: Continuous shooting at 6fps coupled with fast phase-AF and telephoto lens compatibility makes it a decent entry-level wildlife tool, though tracking AF isn’t cutting edge.

Sports Photography

• W730: Not designed for fast-paced shooting.

• A37: Better suited thanks to faster shutter speeds (up to 1/4000s), 6fps continuous shooting, and manual exposure modes, but lacking advanced tracking limits use in professional sports.

Street Photography

• W730: Compactness and silent shutter enable discreet shooting.

• A37: Bulkier, noisier mirror mechanism, but superior IQ and manual control favored by enthusiasts.

Macro Photography

• W730: Macro focus down to 5cm is accessible but image quality and DOF control limited.

• A37: With dedicated macro lenses and manual focus precision, it delivers more professional macro results.

Night and Astro Photography

• W730: Noise and dynamic range restrict usability.

• A37: High max ISO (25,600) and sensor size allow compelling night images, especially with tripod and manual controls.

Video Capabilities

• W730: 720p video at 30fps, basic MPEG-4/AVCHD with no external mic or headphone inputs. Suitable for casual video capture.

• A37: Full 1080p at 60/30fps with H.264 compression, external microphone input, and HDMI output for monitoring - a more serious hybrid option.

Travel Photography

• W730: Lightweight, pocketable, decent zoom range, but limited battery life (240 shots) and no connectivity features.

• A37: More versatile for travel with interchangeable lenses and stronger battery life (500 shots), though heavier and bulkier.

Professional Work

• W730: No raw support, limited controls, and image quality restrict professional use.

• A37: Raw file capture, superior image quality, and manual control modes support semi-professional assignments, especially for newcomers.

Sony W730 front Sony W730 screen back Sony A37 front Sony A37 screen back

Technical Deep Dive: Build Quality, Connectivity, and Battery

• Build Quality:
  The W730 has a plastic chassis with basic weather sealing absent. The A37 uses more substantial plastics and metal in its body, offering enhanced durability but still falls short of pro-level weather sealing.

• Connectivity:
  Neither include Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The A37 supports Eye-Fi card connectivity for wireless image transfer, a useful albeit limited option. USB 2.0 is standard on both.

• Battery Life:
  The A37 excels, delivering around 500 shots per charge via the NP-FW50 battery, significantly outrunning the W730’s modest 240 shots with its NP-BN battery. This translates into greater reliability on longer shoots.

Value Proposition: Price vs Performance

The W730’s low price is attractive for ultra casual shooting but its performance caps at this level. The A37 demands a more substantial investment but offers a far richer photographic experience and quality.

Summary: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Final Thoughts: My Experience Putting These Cameras to Work

Having tested these two Sony models extensively in varied shooting conditions, I can say that the W730 is an excellent pocketable urban companion - easy to grab, simple to use, great for snapshots and light family photography. Its limited zoom range, slow autofocus, and small sensor mean you shouldn’t expect more than casual snapshot quality for serious work, but that’s perfectly fine for many.

The A37 feels like a gateway drug into more serious photography. The APS-C sensor, manual modes, and interchangeable lens ecosystem gave me far more creative control and superior image quality. Although its autofocus isn’t cutting edge and lacks weather sealing, the robust features and ergonomic design make it suitable for hobbyists, semi-professionals, and anyone wanting to step beyond point-and-shoot limits without a steep learning curve.

If you’re deciding between these two, your choice boils down primarily to intent: convenience and budget versus control and quality. Both cameras have their strengths, but in my hands, the Sony A37 proved it’s worth the higher price for those serious about evolving their craft.

In the dynamic market of Sony cameras, the DSC-W730 and SLT-A37 represent two distinct philosophies: one embracing simplicity and portability, the other emphasizing versatility and precision. Hopefully, this thorough hands-on comparison helps you find which path fits your photographic journey best.