Sony W230
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- 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
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
95 Imaging
34 Features
25 Overall
30
Sony W230 summary
Sony W230 is Sony's Small Sensor Compact camera originally released on February of 2009. It uses a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 4000 x 3000.
The W230 is ranked #185 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and over all #1120 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please check our Advanced camera search to get camera ratings based on your custom criteria.
Here is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Sony W230 family
The Sony W230 is part of a family of cameras. You can view the detailed list below.
F2.8-5.812MP1/2.3"2009
Sony W230 Gallery
You can view the W230 from several angles in the gallery here.
Sony W230 Pros and Cons
Here is a checklist of positives and negatives of the Sony W230 based on criterias that are typically regarded as necessary in a camera.
Sony W230 Sensor information
The size of the sensor in the Sony W230 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter may produce cropping.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe CCD sensor boasts 12MP and supports a native ISO range of 80 - 3200. Sadly, RAW files are not saved so the user has less room to maneuver in post.
The graphic below illustrates the W230's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The W230 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
Sony W230 dimensions
Sony W230 weighs about 0.34 pounds (156g / 5.50 oz) and features outer size of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9"). The weight of average Small Sensor Compact camera is 174g so the Sony W230 is less heavy compared to other competitors.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsListed below is a pic of the Sony W230 with a soda to help you have a sense of its size.
The top view here will show you the button arrangement on the W230.
Sony W230 Lens information
The W230 comes with a fixed lens giving a focal range of 30-120mm making it a 4.0 x zoom which is not very good nevertheless it may be helpful in certain conditions.
At it's widest 30mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.8 making it quite sluggish and not great in low light events and you may struggle to capture good bokeh. You will also need to raise your ISO giving you noisy pictures. At the long end, 120mm comes at f5.8 which is pretty slow and you will have to use slow shutter speeds.
Sony W230 Connectivity
The W230 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that have NFC or Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily copy pictures and in some cases adjust settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.
Many apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack through the USB socket.
Sony W230 Video information
The highest possible video resolution in the Sony W230 is 640 x 480 and it can save in Motion JPEG format. 480p is low by today's standards. You should really shoot for at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The body does not offer a mic or headphone port so you have got zero control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to take a look at another camera if you need better sound in your video clips.
Sony W230 Weather Sealing
Sony W230 does not have environment sealing so damp conditions can easily ruin the camera.
Sony W230 Display and Viewfinder
The Sony W230 houses a 3 inch fixed display screen with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.
Sadly the display screen is not a touch screen.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe View Finder specs regarding Sony W230 are below:
- ViewFinder None
In those bright outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and challenging to view, viewfinders can be quite helpful.
Sony W230 Shutter information
Sony W230 continuous shooting speed is 2.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600s.
Sony W230 Flash and Hot shoe information
Sony W230 includes just integrated flash with no external flash support.
Sony W230 Autofocus information
Sony W230 includes only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot quicker & precise compared to Contrast Based focusing.
It boasts 9 focus points to choose from. Sony W230 comes with manual focusing if required during low light conditions or you need to have more precise control on focusing.
Sony W230 Battery life
The average Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 features the best (470) battery life within this category of cameras.
Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras that have the best battery life:
Sony W230 for specific kinds of photography
The following bar chart indicates a rundown of the Sony W230 for specific kinds of photography. To find out more, check out the specific section below.
Sony W230 Portrait photography advice
The Sony W230 has a points tally of 27 which is low, and means the camera is not suitable to use for portrait photography. Photographing portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, support for RAW photos plus the flexibility to utilize external lighting.
Sony W230 as a Street photography camera
Getting a moderate points total of 56, the Sony W230 is fairly suited for street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of image quality and portability.
Sony W230 Sports photography highlights
A low sports photography rating of 25 indicates the Sony W230 is not suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera really should have excellent focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
Portability is pretty crucial when getting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Sony W230 gets a reasonable 51 as a travel camera which is relatively suitable to purchase for your vacations.
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
For anyone who is planning to purchase a camera for landscape pictures, the most vital aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony W230 and it's low rating of 36 as a landscape camera is not suitable within the current market.
Sony W230 Vlogging info
A camera for vlogging preferably should have a moving display, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Considering every thing, the Sony W230 is not suitable as a vlog camera as it receives a low rating of 25.
Sony W230 Alternatives
If you want replacements to the W230, here is a range of the highest placed cameras that fall into the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The line chart just below gives you a summary of the W230 compared to it's top ranking competitors suggested earlier.
There are more cameras you may have a look at as alternate options. To go through a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.