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Sony DSLR-A230 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Sony DSLR-A230 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 03 December 2009 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 29 November 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 28 September 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 25 September 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 17 September 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 14 September 2009 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 25 August 2009 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 17 July 2009 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 16 July 2009 - |
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- 3.5 |
Pocket-lint 's conclusion / rating - 03 December 2009 |
“ Though it may be the current runt of the Alpha family, the A230 doesn't prove a pig to use, in spite of our grumbles about the too small grip and lack of Live View. With large, well spaced controls - big buttons and chunky mode and command dials - it offers a beginner friendly and inexpensive route into DSLR ownership for those looking to get more professional results than their compact camera or mobile phone can ever provide.
The kit lens is also impressively sharp given clear, ideal shooting conditions, displaying minimal barrel distortion and corner softening at maximum wide angle. The performance is certainly more than ample given the target market, and there's the added plus that users get image stabilisation built into the body too, enabling decent low light shots shooting when handheld, relatively untroubled by noise.
If you like the look and feel of the A230 and can afford a little bit more, the likewise beginner friendly A380 comes more highly recommended by us, not least because it features a tilt and rotate LCD screen for a greater variety of photo opportunities, plus (as with the A330) Quick AF Live View. For the undemanding on a budget though, looking to build a DSLR system from scratch, the A230 is a sensible if basic fit... ”
Pocket-lint's rating: |
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- 3.5 |
Complete review here
CameraLabs 's conclusion / rating - 29 November 2009 |
“ When Sony announced the Alpha A230 (and its siblings the A330 and A380), it wasn’t hard to understand why many enthusiasts were disappointed. Most have become accustomed to new cameras featuring more powerful specifications such as higher resolutions, quicker shooting and bigger, more detailed screens, not to mention the adoption of modern gadgetry, like movie modes.
With the new entry-level Alphas though Sony completely avoided that route, instead opting to keep essentially the same electronics as their predecessors, and simply house them in a redesigned body with a revamped user interface. Sure, there’s a switch from Compact Flash to SD / Memory Stick Duo and a new HDMI port, but in terms of major specifications, there’s little change.
But that’s not to say the A230 is a failure. Sony’s done its homework and is squarely targeting its revamped entry-level threesome at confirmed DSLR beginners. In order to appeal to these buyers, it’s gone for a much less intimidating user interface and a distinctive body design, and while we weren’t personally fond of the latter, it certainly stands out among the competition.
The absence of Live View is however problematic for a target audience upgrading from a point-and-shoot. They’ll be used to framing with a screen and will miss it on the A230. But then Live View isn’t a foregone conclusion at this price point. Nikon’s entry-level model, the D3000, is a key rival but one which also doesn’t offer Live View. Indeed of the current batch of budget DSLRs, only Canon’s EOS 1000D / XS offers the facility.
For its fairly basic appearance and operation, the Sony A230 also has two important advantages over most of its rivals: first it has built-in stabilisation (also offered on Olympus and Pentax models, but at a higher price), and secondly it’s by far the cheapest of the current crop. Depending on where you shop, the Alpha A230 could cost up to 25% less than the cheapest models from Canon or Nikon.
These are critical points which will see the A230 snapped-up by price-conscious buyers. Indeed you can forgive a lot of its shortcomings at this price, and as such we can recommend it to those who are looking for a new DSLR on a tight budget.
Ultimately while the A330 enjoys the sweet-spot in price and features of the budget Alpha threesome, the bottom line is the A230 is simply one of the cheapest DSLRs on the market right now. Sure it doesn’t have Live View, movies or a big screen, but it does have 10 Megapixels, a friendly user interface and built-in stabilisation – not at all bad for the money... ”
Complete review here
PhotoReview 's conclusion / rating - 28 September 2009 |
“ Buy this camera if:
- You want an affordable interchangeable-lens camera with fast autofocusing in bright light.
- You want body-integrated image stabilisation that works with all lenses.
- You'd like a wide range of user-adjustable controls and functions.
- You're interested in shooting raw files and are prepared to edit them in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
Don't buy this camera if:
- You want a Live View system similar to those on most digicams.
- You'd like the ability to shoot both still pictures and HD video clips.
- You require high burst speeds and buffer capacity.
- You require high resolution and low noise levels at ISO settings over 800... ”
PhotoReview's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DSLR UK 's conclusion / rating - 25 September 2009 |
“ Overall I found the A230 design visually attractive and solidly built. It is relatively simple to use, handles well, the auto-focus responded accurately and quickly and the image quality was exceptionally good; better than I would have expected from an entry level camera. For a camera in this price bracket I believe the A230 offers great value for money. And, for the record, I found the instruction book easy to wade through.
The light weight of the Sony A230 makes it an excellent tool for photo-reportage and travel photography. This image, shot as a fine JPEG, when seen enlarged retains excellent sharpness as well as detail in the movement of the spinning wheel... ”
Complete review here
Trusted Reviews 's conclusion / rating - 17 September 2009 |
“ The Sony Alpha A230 is currently the cheapest APS-C digital SLR on the market. It is very basic, and naturally it lacks many of the in bells and whistles such as HD video and live view found on more expensive models, but nonetheless it is a nice easy-to-use camera that is more than capable of taking excellent pictures. Experienced photographers will find it limited, but for first buyers it’s excellent value for money... ”
Trusted Reviews's rating: |
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- 4 |
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 14 September 2009 |
“ The A230 is the third and final new entry-level Sony DSLR that we've reviewed, and as with the more expensive A330 and A380 models, it's a clear step backwards when compared with its predecessor, the A200. Offering no significant new features and featuring a less usable design, it seems that the A230 has favoured form over function, with all three of our reviewers questioning the logic of Sony's re-design.
The Sony A230's immediate forebear, the Alpha A200, was a somewhat chunky but generally well designed DSLR that offered good handling and ease of use thanks to its sensible user interface and intuitive ergonomics. With the arrival of the Alpha A230, it has been replaced by an undeniably smaller and lighter but at the same time much less conveniently designed camera that is frankly uncomfortable to hold and sometimes frustrating to use. That's a real problem for a camera which promises to offer improved ease of use and handling.
The A230 also suffers in comparison to its bigger brother, the A330. If you do actually like this camera's design (definitely try before you buy), then the A330's excellent Live View system and tilting LCD screen are well worth the slight price premium, despite the slightly reduced optical viewfinder coverage. For us the A330 hits the sweet spot between the value of the A230 and increased megapixel count of the A380, although we still can't strongly recommend it as all three models share the same handling flaws.
As with the A330, instead of purchasing the new Sony A230, you'd be much better off tracking down its predecessor the Alpha A200 or its higher-resolution sibling the A350, which offer the same or better features in a well-designed and ultimately easier-to-use body. The Sony A230 is clear proof that new does not always equal better... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 3.5 |
Complete review here
PCMag 's conclusion / rating - 25 August 2009 |
“ With its user-friendly interface and budget price, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 is an excellent choice for D-SLR newbies. Another solid entry-level contender, the $600 (with lens) Pentax K2000 is user-friendly and takes sharp pictures but you won't get the HDMI port or an accelerometer-enabled LCD. If you're you're willing to spend a bit more, our Editors' Choice, the $700 (body only) Rebel XSi takes even-better images, and it includes a Live-View LCD... ”
Complete review here
ePhotozine 's conclusion / rating - 17 July 2009 |
“ I'll have to wait for the unit coming into the office before I can perform noise test shots but it's on its way to me as I type so it shouldn't be too long. For an entry level model, it works nicely and feels well made in the hands. I like the smooth, curved lines, depite being a fan of vintage, and I think Sony have made a good move in allowing the camera to accept SD/SDHC cards. Hopefully the DLNA will open up more manufacturers into understanding that not everyone buys everything in the same make... ”
ePhotozine's rating: |
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- 3.5 |
Complete review here
CNET 's conclusion / rating - 16 July 2009 |
“ Given that the Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 has a better viewfinder, unless you really want the Live View shooting it's a better deal than the A330. But if you're looking for the cheapest decent dSLR available--albeit one with similarly bad defaults--then you should consider the Pentax K2000... ”
Complete review here
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