Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A290

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Alpha DSLR-A230 compared with Alpha DSLR-A290

	SonyAlpha DSLR-A230	SonyAlpha DSLR-A290
Overview
Released
Released	June 2009	July 2010
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CCD	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.6 × 15.8 mm	23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	10.2 MP	14.2 MP
Largest image
Largest image	3872 × 2592	4592 × 3056
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–3200	100–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Approximately 10.8 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, anti-static coating and sensor-shift dust reduction	Approximately 14.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and image-sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formats
Image formats	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1; 3:2 and 16:9; sRGB and Adobe RGB
Image processor
Image processor	BIONZ	BIONZ (Sony launch announcement)
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Sony A-mount	Sony A-mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Sensor shift	Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	2.5 fps	2.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount lenses; lens specifications depend on the fitted lens	–
Autofocus
Autofocus	TTL phase-detection with nine points, including central cross sensor; single, automatic and continuous AF, manual focus and Eye-start AF	Nine-point TTL phase detection with central cross sensor; EV 0–18 at ISO 100; single, automatic and continuous AF plus manual focus; Eye-start AF and flash AF illumination
Shutter
Shutter	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second	Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Maximum approximately 2.5 fps; up to six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames, depending on recording media and conditions	Maximum approximately 2.5 fps at full resolution using the optical viewfinder; maker specifies Fine JPEG until card fills, six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames, depending on card and conditions
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	SteadyShot INSIDE shifts the image sensor	SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; approximately 2.5–3.5 shutter-speed steps depending on lens and shooting conditions
Flash
Flash	Automatic pop-up flash; guide number 10 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; Alpha-system external flash support	Pop-up flash, guide number 10 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; Sony Alpha accessory shoe; wireless flash with compatible optional external flash
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	Program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual; automatic and six scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb metering	P/A/S/M and scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb SPC metering; ±2 EV in 0.3 EV steps; three-frame exposure bracketing at 0.3 or 0.7 EV; Dynamic Range Optimizer Off, Standard and Advanced
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	2.7″	2.7″
Screen dots
Screen dots	230,400	230,400
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	–
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed TFT Clear Photo LCD; manual brightness adjustment	Fixed Clear Photo LCD; dots count colour subpixels; no live view
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.83× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1m⁻¹	Pentamirror optical viewfinder; approximately 95% coverage and 0.83× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity (Sony UK specifications). Shared original Asia specification sheet prints 0.74× across the model table; exact UK model table used
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	510 photographs	500 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	450 g (better)	456 g
Release detail
Release detail	Sony Japan announced the body and lens kits on 18 May 2009 for 25 June sale; Imaging Resource reports US shipping began in June 2009, so the catalogue retains month precision.	Sony Spain's original announcement specifies availability in the first half of July 2010; month precision retained. Sony Europe's parallel announcement states summer 2010; DPReview also reports July shipping
Recording media
Recording media	SD, SDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo	Separate Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo/PRO-HG Duo HX and SD/SDHC card slots
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C and Alpha accessory shoe	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and mini HDMI Type C; supports BRAVIA Sync and PhotoTV HD; optional infrared remote, without wired remote-release terminal
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	NP-FH50; approximately 510 shots under CIPA conditions; maker's launch table uses flash for 50% of shots	NP-FH50; approximately 500 photographs under maker CIPA conditions
Charging
Charging	Supplied BC-VH1 battery charger; optional AC-PW10AM adapter	–
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 128 × 97 × 67.5 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections	Approximately 128.1 × 97.1 × 79.6 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 450 g body only, excluding battery, recording media and accessories	Approximately 456 g without battery, memory card or accessories; approximately 508 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
Colours
Colours	Black	–
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording; HDMI supports still-image playback	No movie recording (WIRED); HDMI is for still-image playback