Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Pro Reviews

Underneath the veneer, very little has changed from the old model but that is not necessarily a bad thing, as this still offers a very competitive performance, and currently a cheaper price than its competitors once you take into account the kit lens. The new outside of the camera certainly looks slicker and is well built with some nice little features, such as the sliding port/card cover, and overall it is smaller and lighter; but the handling has suffered making it more difficult to get a solid grip. These handling issues are the only real let down to an otherwise very competent camera, and if your budget is tight, it's well worth considering. But, if your cash can stretch a little further it might be also worth considering Nikon's new entry-level offering, the D3000, which we have also reviewed.

It's disappointing that this camera is in many respects worse than its predecessor, but ultimately it only needs to compete with the current crop of rival entry-level SLR cameras. In this context, its battery life and zoom range are competitive, and the layout of buttons is no worse than many other cameras at this price. However, the A230's image quality isn't as good as the best entry-level SLRs, and its continuous shooting speed is a long way behind. It's the flawed ergonomics that concerns us most, though. The A230 is awkward to hold, and that's enough in itself to take it out of the running.

If you're on a budget, the A230 is one of the most affordable SLR kits around. The A230 may be less sophisticated than other models, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing given its target market.

For an entry level model, the Sony Alpha A230 looks pretty good and performs well. I love the UI giving as little masterclass as you use it. For users who want to move up from a prosumer or superzoom bridge compact but don't want a huge camera hanging from their necks, this is a perfect solution.

With the kits of the Canon and Nikon available for around the same £400, they're more expensive than the Sony at £340 and this is where it could get tricky. It may be worth simply looking at which one gives the performance in this test then going for whichever is the cheapest.

The Sony A230 digital SLR camera may be a fairly unsophisticated model, but that’s not a bad thing given its target market. It’s a good starter option for those on a budget who aren’t already wedded to Canon or Nikon’s lens systems – neither of which have in-body antishake, which is a distinct advantage of the Sony system.

It's good value, but the Alpha A230 is too close in price to the superior Sony A330

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 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 delivers terrific value and solid shots for an entry-level SLR, but it lacks features such as HD video capture and Live View, which you'll often find on higher-end models.

Sony A230 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.

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 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.

Internally, there were few enough changes that we didn't expect a lot, but were nevertheless pleasantly surprised by the high print quality across the Sony A230's ISO range, with its 10-megapixel images capable of producing very good 13x19-inch prints at the lowest ISOs.

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 is a solid entry-level dSLR that will surely have its fans, and it's a better deal than its slightly higher-end sibling, the A330.