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Sony W830

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Sony W830 overview

Sony W830 is Sony's Ultracompact camera originally announced on January of 2014. It has a 20 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 5152 x 3864.

The W830 places at #32 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras and all around #820 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can try out our Advanced camera search to get camera ratings based on your customized criteria.

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Below is a graph of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony W830 family

The Sony W830 comes with a history of related cameras. Down below, you can look at all previous and more recent models along with important specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX220 front thumbnailSony WX220
W830 vs WX220
25-250mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W830 front thumbnailSony W83025-200mm
F3.3-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W810 front thumbnailSony W810
W830 vs W810
27-162mm
F3.5-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W550 front thumbnailSony W550
W830 vs W550
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W560 front thumbnailSony W560
W830 vs W560
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W570 front thumbnailSony W570
W830 vs W570
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX9 front thumbnailSony WX9
W830 vs WX9
25-125mm
F2.6-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W530 front thumbnailSony W530
W830 vs W530
26-104mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W510 front thumbnailSony W510
W830 vs W510
26-104mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W330 front thumbnailSony W330
W830 vs W330
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W350 front thumbnailSony W350
W830 vs W350
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W310 front thumbnailSony W310
W830 vs W310
28-112mm
F3.0-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W320 front thumbnailSony W320
W830 vs W320
26-105mm
F2.7-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W380 front thumbnailSony W380
W830 vs W380
24-120mm
F2.4-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010

Sony W830 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of benefits and drawbacks of the Sony W830 based on aspects that are usually seen as essential in a camera.

built in image stabilization (Optical)
built in zoom lens (25-200mm 8.0 x zoom)
decently wide (25mm)
flash built-in
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
has tracking autofocus
very good min ISO (80)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have phase detect AF
doesn't have RAW files
external flash not possible
focusing manually not possible
lack of external microphone port
lack of HDMI port
lack of headphone port
lack of Timelapse recording
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
manual exposure not available
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
max zoom aperture not good (f6.3)
no aperture priority
no shutter priority
screen has low resolution (230 thousand dot)
screen is fixed
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sony W830 Sensor features

The Sony W830 houses the Bionz chip. The sensor size on the Sony W830 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 5152 x 3864 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 20 megapixels and has a native ISO range of 80 to 3200. Sadly, RAW files are not supported which means that the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The picture below illustrates the W830's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The W830 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 sensor size Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence

To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony W830 dimensions

Sony W830 weighs about 0.27 lbs (122 grams / 4.30 oz) and the physical size of the camera is 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9"). The weight of general Ultracompact camera is 121 grams and the Sony W830 is very similar when compared with various rivals.

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Below is a visual of the Sony W830 alongside a soda so you can have a sense of its size.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 dimensions scale

The top view here will show the button arrangement on the W830.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 topview buttons dials

Sony W830 Lens features

The W830 has got a built-in lens having a focal range of 25-200mm making it a 8.0 x zoom which won't be significant nevertheless it would certainly be very helpful in some scenarios.

At it's widest 25mm, it provides an aperture of f3.3 and that's quite sluggish and not ideal in low light circumstances and you will probably struggle to capture good bokeh. You will likely also have to raise your ISO setting resulting in noisy photographs. At the long end, 200mm comes with f6.3 which is quite slow and you may have to go with slow shutter speeds.

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Sony W830 Connectivity

The W830 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can transfer photos and at times adjust settings with no need to connect physically with the camera.

Some apps also allow a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can easily be connected to an external display. Many cameras will allow you to recharge the battery with the USB socket.

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Sony W830 Video features

The highest video resolution on the Sony W830 is 1280 x 720 and it can record in H.264 format. 720p is low by today's standards. You should really go for a minimum FUll HD resolution for good video. The body doesn't include a mic and / or headphone port which means you have got absolutely no control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to consider a different camera if you want decent sound in your video clips.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Sony W830 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing on the Sony W830 so you have to be cautious in rainy and dusty situations.

Sony W830 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony W830 has a 2.7 inch fixed display screen having a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Sadly the display screen is not a touch screen.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 screen and viewfinder Sony Japan Introduces 5G Transmitter for Alpha Cameras

The View Finder specifications regarding Sony W830 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

In those bright outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and difficult to view, viewfinders will be rather useful.

Sony W830 Shutter features

Sony W830 continuous shooting speed is 1.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.

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Sony W830 Flash and Hot shoe features

Sony W830 has got just inbuilt flash without external flash ability.

Sony W830 Autofocusing features

Sony W830 has got only Contrast Based Auto Focus and doesn't have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker & accurate as compared with Contrast Based focusing. The camera has Face detect making it handy for taking photos of people.

It also features Tracking Auto Focus for things that move. Sony W830 does not have manual focusing. Manual focusing can be good for low light occasions or you need more accurate focus control.

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Sony W830 Battery life

The typical Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 offers the highest (320) battery life for this type of cameras.

Following is a list of Ultracompact cameras having the best battery life:

Sony W830 for varying types of photography

The following chart indicates a overview of the Sony W830 for varying types of photography. To view more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Portrait photography with Sony W830

The Sony W830 receives a rating of 38 which is awful, meaning that it is not really good to use for portrait photos. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support in addition to the option to utilize external flash.

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good megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support

Sony W830 Street photography information

With a average points total of 59, the Sony W830 is reasonably suited to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files

Sony W830 as a Sports photography camera

A awful sports photography points tally of 43 suggests the Sony W830 is not really good for shooting sports. A camera must have excellent tracking plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF

Sony W830 Travel photography info

Portability is extremely critical in buying a travel camera. All round, the Sony W830 gets a above average 67 for a travelling camera which makes it a respectable option to take with you on your trips.

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megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)

Landscape photography with Sony W830

For anyone planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the most critical factor will no doubt be image quality. The Sony W830 with it's awful grade of 41 as a landscape camera is not really good compared to its competitors.

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really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording

Sony W830 Vlogging details

A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving display, mic input and if possible image stabilization. Considering everything, the Sony W830 is not really good as a vlog camera as it gets a awful rating of 32.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket

Sony W830 Alternatives

If you are interested in replacements to the W830, below is a list of the highest scored cameras which fall in to the class of Ultracompact.

The diagram down below gives you a summary of the W830 compared to it's highest rated competitors suggested earlier.

These are some more cameras you might look at as alternatives. To review a thorough comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Category
Ultracompact
Released
2014-01-07
Body design
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Powered by
Bionz
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
5152 x 3864
RAW data
Maximum native ISO
3200
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-200mm (8.0x)
Largest aperture
f/3.3-6.3
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Range of display
Fixed Type
Display size
2.7"
Display resolution
230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech
Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
2 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash options
Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
122 gr (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions
93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
Other
Battery ID
NP-BN
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Storage slots
1
Pricing at launch
$128