This article is about the Sony A230 (2009 model).
Older camera reviews remain available online as references and resources for photographers.
The Alpha 230 is Sony's entry-level DSLR. It excels in simplicity. Is that a strength or a shortcoming?
Take the A330, remove live view and the tilting screen, and you have the A230. We discussed the Sony A330 extensively here, so this A230 review will be brief.
At the heart of both cameras is a 10-megapixel CCD sensor that performs flawlessly. It delivers excellent color, tonal gradation, and detail, along with very good ISO performance for a 10 MP CCD. It is perfectly usable through ISO 800, while ISO 1600 and 3200 remain viable in especially low light.
Simplicity and Automatic Settings
Noise reduction at higher ISO settings is applied just right. Shooting RAW produces slightly less noise and, above all, better detail.
It is a shame Sony did not extend Auto ISO to 800, because the image quality could easily support it. Better still would be an adjustable Auto ISO setting, allowing you to choose how high the automatic range may go.
Perhaps Sony, as a newcomer to the DSLR market, understands new DSLR users better than anyone
As it stands, you must always select settings above ISO 400 yourself. That is not possible in fully automatic mode—the green beginner mode in which the camera controls everything—as the camera chooses ISO 200 or 400.
That green mode is extremely restrictive, because there is almost nothing you can adjust. But that approach deserves some respect: Sony's reasoning is that if a fully automatic mode lets you change all kinds of settings, all kinds of things can also go wrong. There is certainly a lot to be said for that. No other manufacturer dares to go this far. Perhaps Sony, as a newcomer to the DSLR market, understands new DSLR users better than anyone.
Visual Guide to Depth of Field and Motion
Many well-intentioned photography enthusiasts struggle to remember how aperture works: high or low number, more or less depth of field. The Sony A230's LCD has a useful, easy-to-understand scale for this, as well as a scale showing how effectively the shutter speed can freeze motion.
It is ideal for anyone uninterested in technical figures: at a glance, you get an impression of the depth of field and how motion will be rendered.
The Sony A230 keeps buttons and switches to a minimum. Essential functions can be controlled directly with a button; everything else is on a clear screen accessed with the function button. The menu is mainly for general settings and is simple and well organized.
One feature missing compared with its A200 predecessor is a dedicated AE lock button. That is not a major loss. You should never use exposure lock together with intelligent multi-segment metering, although in practice people often do.
It is useful with center-weighted metering, but after the latest firmware update, this metering method automatically locks exposure when you press the shutter button halfway. Again, this is well thought out and extremely simple. And if you really want complete control, there is always the M setting.
Program shift has been removed according to the same straightforward logic. Again, this is by no means a serious problem.
Ergonomics and Real-World Use
Sony's new DSLRs have a clearly consistent design. The Sony A230 also looks very good, with an attractive combination of rounded and angular shapes. The grip on the right is rather small, especially compared with other cameras, but the camera remains very comfortable to use.
Simply a good DSLR for a modest budget
The viewfinder is fairly small; eyeglass wearers should check whether they can see the entire frame at once. The image is larger than on the A330 and A380, however, where the live view sensor takes up some of the available space.
Who Is the A230 For?
Many reviews describe Sony's cameras as stripped down. That is a fair assessment if you like tailoring a camera to your preferences through numerous settings. But if you focus mainly on results and want a DSLR you can master quickly, the A230 is a good entry-level choice. It is simply a good DSLR for a modest budget.
