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Sony W730 vs Sony A99

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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
  • Announced December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Refreshed by Sony A99 II
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Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Sony W730 versus Sony A99, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are produced by Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the W730 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the W730 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The W730 was introduced very close to the A99 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony W730 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the W730 grades against the A99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony A99

 W730 A99 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony W730

 A99 W730 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony W730 and Sony A99

 W730 A99 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013December 2012Similar age

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony W730 provides exterior measurements of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Look at the Sony W730 versus Sony A99 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the W730 and the A99.

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the W730 and A99 is 96 and 57 respectively.

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The photograph below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the W730 and A99.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The W730 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A99 will offer you extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively.

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W730 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
81
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W730 Street photography highlights
Sony A99 Street photography highlights
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
lighter than average in class (122g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony W730 Sports photography details
Sony A99 Sports photography details
41
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W730 Travel photography features
Sony A99 Travel photography features
71
lighter than average in class (122g)
supports touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W730 Landscape photography details
Sony A99 Landscape photography details
39
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery power (500 shots)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W730 Vlogging details
Sony A99 Vlogging details
34
quite wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than average in class (122 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
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Sony W730 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W730 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 Sony SLT-A99
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-01-08 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-224mm (9.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.3 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD display TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 2 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 122 grams (0.27 lbs) 812 grams (1.79 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 500 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One Two
Pricing at launch $138 $1,998