Sony Alpha A230Y 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm and 55-200mm Lenses

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.1 x 7.3 inches ; 3.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0029U0WXO
• Item model number: DSLRA230Y
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,605 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 17, 2009

Product Description

Sony® a; (alpha) DSLR-A200: more features, less blur. For family photographers who want greater quality and creativity, the Sony® a; (alpha) DSLR-A200 combines high-resolution 10.2 MP, simple operation, high sensitivity (ISO 3200), advanced noise reduction and convenient Creative Style settings. SteadyShot INSIDETM in-camera image stabilization works with every lens, including Sony zoom, advanced Sony G-Series, pro-quality Carl Zeiss® lens designs and Minolta ±-mount lenses. Stamina® power provides up to 750 shots2 on a fully charged InfoLITHIUM® battery. Eye-Start Autofocus and pop-up flash help you shoot faster -- and a bright 2.7"1 LCD screen displays index and high-resolution thumbnail images. SteadyShot INSIDETM in-camera image stabilization SteadyShot INSIDETM DSLR-A200: more features, less blur. For family photographers who want greater quality and creativity, the Sony® ?; (alpha) DSLR-A200 combines high-resolution 10.2 MP, simple operation, high sensitivity (ISO 3200), advanced noise reduction and convenient Creative Style settings. SteadyShot INSIDETM in-camera image stabilization works with every lens, including Sony zoom, advanced Sony G-Series, pro-quality Carl Zeiss® lens designs and Minolta ±-mount lenses. Stamina® power provides up to 750 shots2 on a fully charged InfoLITHIUM® battery. Eye-Start Autofocus and pop-up flash help you shoot faster -- and a bright 2.7"1 LCD screen displays index and high-resolution thumbnail images. in-camera image stabilization is built directly into the camera body, so every a-mount lens benefits from the ability to minimize blur due to camera shake. 10.2 megapixel resolution for ultra-fine detail A 10.2 megapixel APS-size CCD image sensor captures your images in stunning detail, giving you the freedom to make large prints and tight crops without sacrificing quality.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sony a230: great camera, November 1, 2009

By 

Alexander Patellis "alexpete" (Central Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony Alpha A230Y 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm and 55-200mm Lenses (Electronics)

After about a week with this camera, I really like it. I am a photographer and I needed a D-SLR, I wanted to start small, but not too small, and cheap. I did do a LOT of research before buying this. I would not recommend it if you need to take lots of fast consecutive shots, 2.5fps (frames per second) is not the fastest. Flash recovery time is a bit slow too. If you have large hands this camera might be strange too, the buttons have very little travel and are shallow and the grip is small. The menus and UI (user interface) are very very nice however. Easy to use and navigate. I really like this camera, it is basic, but has advanced features too. Color is pretty good, but for the best results you should play with the settings. Another plus is you can use Minolta lenses too. 18mm-55mm kit lens is pretty nice, 55mm-200mm is also very nice. Both are pretty light. Another thing is the shutter is kinda loud, not a huge down, but something to take note of. Also has a proprietary hot shoe (where you can attach an external flash) but you can buy an adapter online for about $5. The battery life is also pretty good. I really like it, and would recommend.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Value, Not For Large Hands, November 12, 2009

By 

Pablo Castro "Man of Surprises" (Bogotá, Colombia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony Alpha A230Y 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm and 55-200mm Lenses (Electronics)

After years of using Minolta and Canon SLRs, I had wanted a DSLR for a long time... but had a limited budget. The Alpha 230 is a great discovery in this sense, because you have almost all the pro features you need, including a very nice ISO range that goes up to 3200, plus two quality zoom lenses, for around 500 bucks.

That's the essence, but let me start with my first impressions... As soon as I pulled it out of the box and held it in my right hand, it felt too small. I can't hold it quite as firmly as my other cameras. I asked my girlfriend to hold it, and Voila! Perfect Fit. So I guess this camera is highly recommended for Cinderella photographers. So much, that I immediately looked into the Accesories catalogue for a Vertical grip, which usually makes the camera much larger... and found that Sony has three options, neither of which is compatible with the A230. I think that if I still lived in the USA, I would've returned this for another Sony Alpha that's a little larger (and a little more expensive) like the A300. But I'm in Colombia, and I just paid an additional 90 bucks just to get my big ol' hands on this baby, so I'm gonna have to get used to it. That said, I am aware that in most cases the main support for the camera's weight is actually my left hand, making its awkwardly small size a reminder of the proper way to hold a camera...


Since I first tried it out at night, one of the first things I tried out were the high ISO settings... and they were simply awesome for night shooting. Of course, when you push it too much you get noticeable noise, but that was no surprise... I was trying to shoot my cat in virtually NO light and no flash. The menus are really nice, helping you graphically to achieve the exposure you want. Using the camera in manual mode is comfortable, since both aperture and shutter speed are on the same wheel; you just switch between the two by pressing the +- button with your thumb. Construction is plastic, but feels very sold and durable. And the camera is actually heavier than it looks (but that's because it looks so small to me). Battery life seems quite good but still don't have reliable info on that.

I appreciated the in-depth, printed manual... I know it's not very eco-friendly, but those damn PDF manual are no good when you suddenly blank out in the middle of a shoot and can't remember how to the custom white balance works, for example.

Next related purchases: A decent flash unit (possibly using an adaptor for the sucky proprietary hot shoe), a carrying case that doesn't cost half the camera's price (in other words, not from Sony), and a filter kit, mostly to protect the lenses.

Oh, and Amazon't free shipping is the best. It arrived to my Miami address two days before the estimated delivery date.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sony Alpha DSLR 230, March 14, 2010

By 

soredix - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony Alpha A230Y 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm and 55-200mm Lenses (Electronics)

My original intention was simple: purchase a reasonably priced digital camera without video that included, in one lens, an adequate wide angle and generous telephoto capacity. The megazooms neatly fulfilled these requirements. However, their poor picture quality and video feature eliminated them from consideration. So, I explored the entry level DSLR category and eventually bought the A230 two lens package which I have owned for about a month. The experience has been both satisfying and frustrating. Picture quality is pretty good but, the 55-200 zoom doesn't extend far enough. The purchase of a longer lens maybe necessary.

Pros: Good picture quality, helpful LCD screen graphic display, comfortable small grip.
Cons: No live view, slow continuous shooting.

I would recommend the A230 to beginners and advanced amateurs making the transition to a DSLR camera.