The Sony α 230 (DSLR-A230) is

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

's entry-level

digital single-lens reflex camera A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that combines the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor. The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between ...

(DSLR). The 10.2

megapixel In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device. In most digital display devices, pixels are the smal ...

α230 is available in the United States in two kit versions, one with a DT 18-55mm SAM (smooth-autofocus-motor) Sony

lens A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements''), ...

and the other with the same DT 18-55mm SAM lens and a DT 55-200mm SAM Sony lens. The single lens kit is $449.99 (as of Jan. 1, 2010) and the two lens kit is for $649.99 (as of Jan. 1, 2010). The Sony α230 has a 9-point AF system and takes all Sony α/

Minolta was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta Co., Ltd., which is also known simply as Minolta, was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It made the first integrated autofocu ...

AF mount lenses. The 10.2 megapixel

APS-C Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System film negative in its C ("Classic") format, of 25.1×16.7 mm, an aspect ratio of 3:2 and Ø 31.15 mm field d ...

(23.6 mm × 15.8 mm) sized

CCD sensor A charge-coupled device (CCD) is an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors. Under the control of an external circuit, each capacitor can transfer its electric charge to a neighboring capacitor. CCD sensors are a ...

has a max

ISO ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance * Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007 * Iso ...

of 3200, however when using ISO 800 the photos start to get noisy and 1600 and 3200 have very bad noise. The Sony α230 has a

BIONZ BIONZ is a line of image processors used in Sony digital cameras. It is currently used in many Sony α DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Image processing in the camera converts the raw data from a CCD or CMOS image sensor into the format that is sto ...

images processor and can take approximately 7.5

frames per second A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (con ...

. The Sony α230 includes Creative Style, or preset color settings;

BRAVIA Bravia (stylized as BRAVIA) is a brand of Sony Visual Products Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, and used for its television products. Its backronym is "Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture". All Sony high-defi ...

Sync with a built in

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controller, ...

plug, and anti-dust technology. The Sony α230's anti-dust system is a charge protection coating on a low pass filter and image-sensor shift mechanism. The α230 also features Sony's

SteadyShot SteadyShot is the trademarked name of the integrated image stabilisation technologies used in Sony video camcorders, DSLR cameras, Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, mirrorless cameras and on Sony Xperia smartphones and Tablet computer, tablet ...

INSIDE in-body stabilization. The Sony α230 takes the Sony NP-FH50 rechargeable battery and can take about 510

photos A photograph (also known as a photo, image, or picture) is an image created by light falling on a photosensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic image sensor, such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are now created ...

on a full charge (according to Sony). The viewfinder on the Sony α230 has a 95% field of view and has .83x

magnification Magnification is the process of enlarging the apparent size, not physical size, of something. This enlargement is quantified by a calculated number also called "magnification". When this number is less than one, it refers to a reduction in siz ...

(with a 50 mm lens at infinity) is apparently better than its older brother, the Sony α350 which is almost the same camera except its bigger-tilt screen and

live preview Live preview is a feature that allows a digital camera's display screen to be used as a viewfinder. This provides a means of previewing framing and other exposure before taking the photograph. In most such cameras, the preview is generated by m ...

. A disadvantage to the Sony α230 is its proprietary

hot shoe Canon EOS 350D Hot shoe Proprietary hot shoe used by Minolta and older Sony cameras (Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D">Sony.html" ;"title="Minolta and older Sony">Minolta and older Sony cameras (Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D) A hot shoe is a mounting poin ...

, or where an external

flash unit A flash is a device used in photography that produces a brief burst of light (typically lasting 1/1000 to 1/200 of a second) at a color temperature of about 5500 K to help illuminate a scene. A major purpose of a flash is to illuminate a ...

attaches. The Sony α230, like all other Sony Alpha DSLRs, has the

iISO flash shoe iISO (intelligent ISO) flash shoe (aka "reversed" hotshoe) is the unofficial name for the proprietary accessory flash attachment and control interface used on Minolta cameras since the i-series introduced in 1988, and subsequently Konica Minol ...

. The Sony α230 officially succeeded the

Sony α 200 Sony α 200 (DSLR-A200) is the third model of Sony α digital cameras. The model offers a slight upgrade from the Sony α 100 at a lower price. It first shipped in February 2008. It was officially succeeded by the Sony α 230; the α 230 is muc ...

, however the α 230 seems to be targeted towards a more entry-level market as it is much lighter, several features have been removed and direct buttons to several options have been replaced with on-screen menus, unlike the α200 which uses

CompactFlash CompactFlash (CF) is a flash memory mass storage device used mainly in portable electronic devices. The format was specified and the devices were first manufactured by SanDisk in 1994. CompactFlash became one of the most successful of the e ...

memory cards, the α230 will take either a

Memory Stick The Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card format, originally launched by Sony in late 1998. In addition to the original Memory Stick, this family includes the Memory Stick PRO, a revision that allows greater maximum storage capacity and ...

PRO Duo or an SD/SDHC card. The camera weighs approximately without the

battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

, memory card, lens and other accessories and has the approximate dimensions of 128 mm × 97 mm × 67.5 mm (W/H/D). The Sony α230 has a standard

USB 2.0 Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad v ...

port along with its mini HDMI port. The camera sends a review image to HDMI output immediately after taking a photo. There is no need to switch to playback mode to review. The

flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Barry Allen) ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Wally West, the first Kid ...

on the α230 is a standard pop-up with a recycling time of approximately 4 seconds. The hot shoe is, like most other Sony Alpha camera, a proprietary iISO.Sony-Style: Sony α230 single lens kit Specs
/ref> The Sony α230 has a capability to work with infrared remote control and also wired remote. Remote control is sold separately, and is enabled through the Drive mode menu by selecting 'Remote Commander'. The Sony α230 has a capability to take power from AC Power Supply. Power supply is sold separately. Sony discontinued the α230 in May 2010, replacing it with the α290.

References

External links

{{Konica Minolta/Sony DSLR cameras

230 Year 230 (Roman numerals, CCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Agricola and Clementinus (or, less frequently, year ...