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Sony A330

 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
 
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A300
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Sony A330 summary

Sony A330 is Sony's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera first released on May of 2009. It includes a 10 MegaPixel, CCD APS-C sized sensor and has a max resolution of 3872 x 2592.

Sony launched this model to update the earlier Sony A300 (Read Full Comparison)

The A330 is positioned #54 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & over-all #437 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should check our Smart camera search to see camera listings based on your custom criteria.

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Here is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony A330 history

The Sony A330 has a history of related digital cameras. Below, you can check out all older and latest models alongside important features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-SLT-A68 front thumbnailSony A68
A330 vs A68
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2015
Sony-SLT-A58 front thumbnailSony A58
A330 vs A58
20MPAPS-C8.0 fps2013
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Sony-SLT-A57 front thumbnailSony A57
A330 vs A57
16MPAPS-C12.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A37 front thumbnailSony A37
A330 vs A37
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A65 front thumbnailSony A65
A330 vs A65
24MPAPS-C10.0 fps2011
Sony-SLT-A35 front thumbnailSony A35
A330 vs A35
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2011
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A580 front thumbnailSony A580
A330 vs A580
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2011
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A560 front thumbnailSony A560
A330 vs A560
14MPAPS-C5.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A33 front thumbnailSony A33
A330 vs A33
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A55 front thumbnailSony A55
A330 vs A55
16MPAPS-C10.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A390 front thumbnailSony A390
A330 vs A390
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A290 front thumbnailSony A290
A330 vs A290
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A450 front thumbnailSony A450
A330 vs A450
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550 front thumbnailSony A550
A330 vs A550
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500 front thumbnailSony A500
A330 vs A500
12MPAPS-C5.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A380 front thumbnailSony A380
A330 vs A380
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A330 front thumbnailSony A33010MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A230 front thumbnailSony A230
A330 vs A230
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A200 front thumbnailSony A200
A330 vs A200
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony Japan Introduces 5G Transmitter for Alpha Cameras
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A350 front thumbnailSony A350
A330 vs A350
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A300 front thumbnailSony A300
A330 vs A300
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A100 front thumbnailSony A100
A330 vs A100
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Sony A330 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of benefits and drawbacks of the Sony A330 based on factors that are typically considered necessary in a digital camera.

change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does have HDMI out
focusing manually
great minimum ISO (100)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
tilting screen
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of headphone support
lack of microphone support
lack of Timelapse function
lack of video recording
low resolution screen (230 k dots)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7")
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
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Sony A330 Sensor specifications

The Sony A330 houses the Bionz processor. The specification of the sensor on the Sony A330 is 23.5mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 369 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 3872 x 2592 pixels at aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter might produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 10MP and features a standard ISO range of 100 to 3200. RAW photos are saved therefore you have wider room to maneuver in post.

The picture below shows the A330's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The A330 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is pointed out in green.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 sensor size Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A330 dimensions

Sony A330 weighs in at 1.17 lbs (529 gr or 18.66 ounces) & the sizing of the camera is 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8"). The weight of typical Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540 gr and the Sony A330 is very much the same compared to its competitors.

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Listed below is a visual of the Sony A330 next to a softdrink to help you get a feel for its scale.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 dimensions scale

The top view below will show you the button arrangement on the A330.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 topview buttons dials

Sony A330 Lens specifications

The A330 works with the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and has 145 lenses to select from. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the A330.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-APO-Macro-180mm-F2.8-EX-DG-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM180mmf/2.8 1640g
Sigma-24-105mm-F4-DG-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM24-105mmf/4.0 885g
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Sony-20mm-F2.8 lensSony 20mm F2.820mmf/2.8 285g
Sony-300mm-F2.8-G lensSony 300mm F2.8 G300mmf/2.8 2310g
Tamron-AF-28-75mm-F2.8-XR-Di-LD-Aspherical-IF-Sony-Alpha lensTamron AF 28-75mm F2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF28-75mmf/2.8 510g
Sigma-70-200mm-F2.8-EX-DG-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM70-200mmf/2.8 1430g
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Sony-24-70mm-F2.8-ZA-SSM-Carl-Zeiss-Vario-Sonnar-T lensSony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T24-70mmf/2.8 955g
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Sony A330 Connectivity

The A330 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to transfer images and usually alter camera settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Several applications even enable a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external monitor. Almost all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Sony A330 Video specifications

Sony A330 doesn't record video. If you are shopping for a digital camera to take only pictures, this might not be a concern.

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Sony A330 Weather Sealing

Sony A330 does not include environment proofing so rainy conditions could ruin the camera.

Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony A330 includes a 2.7" tilting screen boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the screen isn't a touch screen.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 screen and viewfinder Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence

The View Finder details for Sony A330 are below:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
  • Coverage 95 percent
  • Magnification 0.49x

Viewfinders can be quite beneficial in bright outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Sony A330 Shutter specifications

Sony A330 continuous shooting speed is 3.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Sony A330 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Sony A330 has both in-built flash together with external flash support. The highest flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Sony A330 Autofocus specifications

Sony A330 has both Phase Detect AF plus Contrast Based AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker and accurate when compared with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera includes Face detection which can be valuable for portraits.

It includes 9 focus points to pick from. Sony A330 has the ability to use manual focusing in case it is needed in low light situations or you need to have more precise focusing control.

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Sony A330 Battery life

The battery pack (NP-FH50) for the Sony A330 is fashioned to last for 230 shots according to the CIPA benchmarks which is lesser compared to it's rivals. The usual Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x features the maximum (1900) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Below is a number of Entry-Level DSLR cameras which have the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
A330 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Sony A330 for different forms of photography

The following graph shows a rundown of the Sony A330 for different forms of photography. To check out more, browse to the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Sony A330

The Sony A330 receives a points tally of 62 which is very good, meaning that it is a respectable fit to use for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW photos along with the potential to use off-camera flash.

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has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)

Sony A330 Street photography factors

Having a nice rating of 75, the Sony A330 is a very decent option to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera gives a perfect balance of picture quality plus portability.

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screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats

Sony A330 Sports photography information

A reasonable sports photography score of 50 suggests the Sony A330 is relatively appropriate for taking photos of sports. A camera must have great focusing plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (230 shots)

Sony A330 Travel photography advice

Weight is super important when choosing a travel camera. On the whole, the Sony A330 gets a lousy 44 as a travel camera which is simply not acceptable for your vacations.

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has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly

Landscape photography with Sony A330

When you're planning to purchase a camera for landscape pictures, the most important aspect will be image quality. The Sony A330 at it's decent score of 54 for a landscape camera is reasonably suitable in the current market.

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you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
missing Timelapse recording

Sony A330 Vlogging info

A camera for vlogging should really have a articulating screen, mic port and preferably image stabilization. Considering everything, the Sony A330 is simply not acceptable as a vlog camera as it receives a lousy score of 9.

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no video recording

Sony A330 Alternatives

If you want replacements to the A330, here is a list of the top placed cameras that fall into the family of Entry-Level DSLR.

The chart down below provides you an overview of the A330 vs it's highest scored competitors suggested above.

There are a bunch of cameras you may look at as alternate options. To browse through a extensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model type
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Class
Entry-Level DSLR
Announced
2009-05-18
Physical type
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor
Bionz
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area
369.0mm²
Sensor resolution
10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
3872 x 2592
RAW format
Highest native ISO
3200
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens support
Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses
143
Focal length multiplier
1.5
Screen
Screen type
Tilting
Screen size
2.7"
Resolution of screen
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.49x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
64
DXO Color Depth rating
22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating
11.5
DXO Low light rating
535
Features
Min shutter speed
30 secs
Max shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate
3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
10.00 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize
1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Highest video resolution
None
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
529 grams (1.17 pounds)
Physical dimensions
128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
Other
Battery life
230 photos
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NP-FH50
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots
Single
Launch cost
$545