Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

10.20 Megapixels	Sony Alpha (Minolta A) mount	2.7 inch LCD

Pay Less! 361.64 $

Basic Specifications
Resolution:	10.20 Megapixels
Kit Lens:	3.00x zoom 18-55mm (27-83mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	Optical
LCD Size:	2.7 inch
ISO:	100-3200
Shutter:	30-1/4000
Max Aperture:	3.5
Mem Type:	MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SDHC
Battery:	Custom LiIon
Dimensions:	5.0 x 3.8 x 2.7 in. (128 x 97 x 68 mm)
Weight:	25.6 oz (725 g) includes batteries
MSRP:	$549
Availability:	06/2009

Test Summary (Mouse over items for explanations)
Power-on Time	0.6 sec
Shutter Lag, Full Autofocus	0.194 sec
Shutter Lag, Prefocused	0.107 sec
Shot to Shot time	0.48 sec
Continuous Speed	2.37 fps (21 shots)
Best Macro	2.36x1.57 in 60x40mm
Viewfinder accuracy (Optical)	95%
Distortion (Wide Angle)	1.0%
Distortion (Telephoto)	0.0%
Battery Life (CIPA standard)	510 shots

Sony A230 Overview

Reviewed by Shawn Barnett, Dave Etchells, and Zig Weidelich
Preview Posted: 05/18/09
Review Posted: 10/31/09

Bucking the trend toward greater complexity and higher resolution, Sony has revamped their consumer digital SLR line with a new focus on even greater simplicity, lower-cost cameras, and more affordable beginner optics. Indeed, the three new SLRs, the Sony A230, A330, and A380 share more specifications in common with their predecessors than they do differences, with the main changes occurring in the size, weight, and shape categories.

Resolution for all three bodies is unchanged. The Sony A230 and A330 both have a 10.2-megapixel sensor, and the A380 has a 14.2-megapixel sensor.

The Sony A230's new body design features fewer buttons to avoid confusing the user, and a few tweaks to the Function menu and the Status display. All three cameras are also bundled with a new 18-55mm lens to replace the 18-70mm lens previously used as a kit lens. The new lens design is shorter and lighter, and is the first of the company's new SAM lens line. Standing for Smooth Autofocus Motor, the new electronically linked lenses are designed to be less expensive than Sony's current offerings, while still offering high optical quality.

The Sony A230 includes support for both Memory Stick Duo and Secure Digital cards, with a manual switch to select between the two. Gone is support for CompactFlash, as is now true for most consumer SLRs.

A new Help system joins the improved DRO brought over from the A900 and the Sony A230 and its new brothers have the SteadyShot Inside feature. There are a number of other feature improvements in the Sony A230, including bigger AF points, a new self-timer mode, and even a new optional flash, all of which we'll get to in the User Report below.

The Sony A230 started shipping in June 2009, initially priced at $549 with the 18-55mm kit lens, and $749 with the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses, covering an 11x zoom range. Be sure to check prices by clicking on the links above right and in the shopping pods below for the latest prices on the Sony A230!

Note: Because these three cameras -- the Sony A230, A330, and A380 are so similar, each of their reviews is a slight rewrite of the other. All test and gallery shots, however, are from each camera. Oddly enough, it turns out that they're each pretty unique in their color rendering, autofocus abilities, and a few other aspects. Of the three, we found the Sony A330 to be the best overall choice.

Revamped: Side-by-side, it's easy to see how the new small Alpha body and lens are different from the old, largely Konica-Minolta-based Alphas (the A380 is pictured, and the A230 is a little slimmer front to back). The grip is smaller, the lens shorter in both size and focal length, and the shutter button is further back on the camera's top deck.

Competitive: Sony has achieved their goal of making the new Alphas smaller and lighter than their predecessors, though they are not significantly smaller or lighter than the competition. Fortunately for Sony, Canon and Nikon's latest consumer SLRs have gotten taller, so the Sony Alphas look shorter overall, and the new lens brings the camera's length front-to-back closer to the Canon T1i.

Look and feel. The bargain model among Sony's consumer line, the Alpha A230 weighs about 1.4 ounces (40g) less than the A330 and A380, at 15.9 ounces (452g) with lens, but without battery or card. The weight is well-balanced, partly thanks to the new lens, but the bodies feel somewhat hollow compared to other digital SLRs in this class.

Much of the weight reduction is due to the significantly trimmed grip on the Sony A230, a smaller Lithium-ion battery, and of course the lack of all the hardware associated with the articulating screen mechanism. Unlike most SLR grips, the Sony A230's stops well short of the camera's shutter release, and the shutter button now appears on the camera's top deck. Everyone on the staff disliked this new design; everyone, that is, but me, and I only accept it because you can easily adjust your grip by balancing the camera's base into the palm of your hand, which puts your index finger in better position to reach the grip, while your pinkie and ring fingers curl around the grip. After a bit of use with one of the heavier Sony lenses, like the Carl Zeiss 24-70 f/2.8 lens, though, I can tell you it puts a strain on these latter two fingers, and makes you miss the rest of the grip. If you don't hold the Sony A230 as I outline above, getting your index finger up to the shutter button is a strain.

It seems Sony was aiming for a more retro look with this design, harking back to gripless film SLRs of days gone by, with their metallic tops and leather-covered bodies. The look is appealing once you get used to it, and those who use a camera strap and the new light SAM lenses will hardly notice the smaller grip.

The grip surface of the Sony A230 has a leather-like texture.

The Control dial now faces forward, just beneath the Sony A230's Shutter release button. The lens release button and AF/MF switch are in the same positions relative to past models. The Sony A230's Alpha logo is now smaller, embossed into the gunmetal-colored top of the two-toned body design. Above that, the mode dial is partially concealed, recessed into the top deck to reduce the chance of accidental activation.

There is still no depth-of-field preview button on the Sony A230.

The Sony A230's new shorter kit lens includes a bayonet mount for a lens hood, but Sony did not include a lens hood in the samples we received. The mode dial is only accessible from the rear and left side of the Sony A230. Sony moved the Power switch from the rear left of the camera's back to a better position surrounding the Shutter release button, a method also used by Nikon and Pentax on their SLRs. Gone is the flash activation button to the left of the lens mount, where it appears on most other digital SLRs. Sony said too many customers never thought to look there, so they've moved it to the Sony A230's rear navigation disk. It's a little more cumbersome to activate now: you have to press the flash button (the right side of the nav disk), then use the up and down arrows to select an active flash mode. Then, once you half-press the shutter release, the flash will pop up.

Sony A230 Lens options

The Sony A230 is compatible with an array of new Sony lenses, and also with all Maxxum and Alpha lenses.

Twenty-six, plus two, plus four. Sony Alpha cameras are backed up by 26 current lenses, plus two teleconverters. This photo doesn't include the four new lenses announced with these cameras, three of which appear below.

The three, plus yet another. Sony has announced four new lenses, labeled SAM for their Smooth Autofocus Motor. They're marked with a silver band around the barrel. Only three of the lenses are new: the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ($200) and the 50mm f/1.8 (expected to retail for $150); the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 ($230) is a re-release of an older lens. Not pictured is the 30mm Macro lens.

Accessories. Sony has also continued to expand their accessory offerings for the Alpha line, with new cases, wraps, lens bags, grip straps, a flash, an LCD cover, and an LCD shade.