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Sony Alpha A230L Digital SLR Camera With 18-55 mm Lens

by Sony
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


  • 10.2 Megapixel APS-size CCD image sensor for ultra-fine detail
  • Included SAL1855 18-55mm standard zoom lens
  • SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera image stabilization; Eye-Start
  • 2.7 inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display
  • Compatible with Memory Stick PRO Duo; Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo; SD/SDHC media (sold separately)
See more product details
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Product details

  • Boxed-product Weight: 2.7 Kg
  • Item model number: DSLRA230L.CEH
  • ASIN: B002A9JDJ8
  • Date first available at Amazon.co.uk: 25 May 2009
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 14,710 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Manufacturer's Description

The Alpha range of Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras from Sony use cutting edge imaging technology to capture every moment perfectly, and are designed to help you push your passion for photography further than ever before. Although it’s a highly advanced device, the α230 is supremely versatile and extremely easy to use, with clear and intuitive menu displays, one hand operation, and a bright, tilting 2.7" viewfinder. The powerful 10.2 megapixel resolution sensor is complemented by advanced features such as SteadyShot INSIDE to prevent hand shaken images, and an optimised BIONZ processor for enhanced image quality. You can enjoy your images on an HD TV screen using the HDMI output and sync with a BRAVIA™ TV to produce full PhotoTV HD images. All this is contained in a sleek, soft-contoured body which is specifically designed for ease of use.

The LCD screen can be tilted to help you frame images at difficult angles

The LCD screen can be tilted to help you
frame images at difficult angles View larger

Enjoy finer details with 10.2 megapixel resolution
The α230 benefits from a huge 10.2 megapixel resolution, generated by its powerful APS–C CCD sensor, which provides superbly detailed images with rich tones and vibrant colour. These are handled by an optimised BIONZ image processor which reduces noise and enables a faster shooting response to create crisper images. With an ISO rating of 3200, this can produce stunning shots even in low light conditions. The α230 even automatically adjusts the brightness of the LCD screen to help you see your shots clearly in different ambient lighting conditions. This combines with a high contrast, anti–reflective coating to make the screen easily visible even in bright outdoor light.

Enjoy beautiful images and razor-sharp responses
At the heart of the α230 is the fast BIONZ processor, which takes a fraction of a second to handle the huge amount of digital information coming in from its powerful sensor. This ensures that details are reproduced with absolute clarity, and noise is almost completely eliminated. Along with its other image–enhancing technologies, the α230 comes with Smart D–Range Optimiser to help produce natural results from high contrast scenes. With perfect attention to detail, the α230 even shakes its sensor every time you shut down to dislodge any dust particles that could appear in a future picture. This is because dust can enter the body of any SLR camera when you install or exchange its lens. With many of its features working automatically, and the rest so easy to manage, you’ll find superb images are standard when using the α230.

SteadyShot uses a sensor to prevent hand shake blurring pictures

SteadyShot uses a sensor to prevent
hand shake blurring pictures View larger

Keep still images still with SteadyShot INSIDE
The very best shots can be ruined by camera shake when you’re shooting handheld — all the more frustrating if the scene you photographed is unlikely to be repeated. The α230 hugely reduces the likelihood of camera shake with its SteadyShot INSIDE feature, which works with any lens. It uses gyroscopic sensors to deliver 4 step anti–shake correction without the need to add any special optics. You’ll find this a great asset when shooting in atmospheric low–light conditions where using a flash would spoil the mood. It keeps things crisper and clearer when you aren’t using a tripod for macro or high–zoom shots too. You can achieve the shots you want even quicker using the α230’s Scene Selection feature which offers seven types of typical shooting situations, such as Backlit or Portrait, and sets the optimum exposure to get the best results at the touch of a button.

Photo TV HD delivers even more detail, so you can enjoy vivid, natural–looking images

Photo TV HD delivers even more detail, so you can
enjoy vivid, natural–looking images View larger

View your work in stunning HD detail on your HD TV
A major advantage of digital photography is that high quality images can be viewed on a large scale on equally high quality digital screens. If you connect your α230 directly to an HD Ready TV, the new HDMI output allows you to view your shots in spectacular HD on the big screen. If your TV is a BRAVIA™ which supports PhotoTV HD, you’ll be able to experience even more lifelike full HD images, bursting with detail and realistic colours, and use your BRAVIA™ remote control to navigate through them easily.

A full range of accessories
The α230 is compatible with 28 different top quality α–mount lenses made by Carl Zeiss and Sony G Lens. Expand your creative options by choosing from wide–angle, macro, portrait, zoom or telephoto lenses. There is also a full range of other accessories from lighting and power units to stylish carry cases. You have the option of recording on SD card or Memory Stick™ whenever you want.

‘Sony’, ‘BRAVIA’, and their logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks acknowledged.

Box Contains

  • Main camera body
  • 18-55mm Lens
  • Lithium Ion battery
  • Charger
  • Instructions


Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
197 of 199 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Solid Performer from Sony 12 Sep 2009
This is Sony's entry level DSLR and whilst well specified, it does not have the Live view or the tilt screen of the A330/A380, in all other respects it is the same camera....which is a good thing

For me, and I have tried the A230, the A330 and the A380, the choice is between the two 10MP cameras (the 230 and the 330), I would forget the 380 with its 14.2mp sensor...the 10mp version as used in this camera gives cleaner, more punchy results, and its cheaper too

So, great things about this camera...smaller and lighter than the camera that it replaces, better user interface which will have you snapping away in no time....there is really nothing bad to say about this DSLR only that you may want to handle one first as some people say the grip is too small....I personally think its just fine, and I have big hands.

Sony have really established themselves in this market now, and there is really no longer any reason to choose a Canon or a Nikon over this camera, Sony Alpha DSLR's are here to stay, and Sony now have a really decent system on the market which is getting more and more established as time passes...no-one dismisses the Sony Alpha cameras anymore...they are excellent, so any lenses and accessories that you buy will transfer to future Alpha cameras

Just a definition of live view if you are unsure.....on a compact camera, you can see the image on the screen before you press the shutter button....on this camera you cant do that, you need to use the viewfinder at all times...thats all OK if that is what you are expecting, if you want that feature on this camera (many people are not bothered)...then you need the slightly more expensive A330....and as I say...forget the A380

So to sum up...good reliable entry level Sony Alpha which takes great photographs which are at least as good as any other 10MP DSLR on the market (Sony supply the image sensors to other manufacturers anyway...so the image quality is the same), its fast, lightweight, has a decent kit lens and it is nice to use, the handgrip has been criticised but in my opinion its fine, and last of all, the price is very competitive....you cant go wrong really

I give it a Recommended
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76 of 78 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to SLR 27 July 2009
By pbm2004
The Sony A230 is as good an introduction to using an SLR as I could have hoped for. Making the leap from a dodgy compact to a full blown SLR is quite a big step and I was slightly nervous about learning the ropes, but the a230 is totally intuitive and has a brilliant graphic display.

Within two or three days of use I am already playing around with the advanced features and am taking shots of a quality I never thought I would be capable of.

Note: the a230 does not have the tilting screen or live view - the photo and manufacturer's description refers to the other models in the new Sony Alpha range.
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67 of 69 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars excellent camera for the price 21 July 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase
Recived this camera today & have just had a chance to test it out. It gives excellent results, pictures are sharp & clear & the viewfinder is bright & easy to use. The menu system on this camera is also excellent, very easy to use, well layed out & there is an onboard help system that explains each setting in detail as you highlight it.

The camera itself is quite small & light & has fewer buttons than most DSLRs in this class (although still keeps all the functionality), this can only be a good thing as it makes it easy to remember where everything is located for when you want to change a setting while taking a shot.

There are a few things that stop the camera from getting 5 stars though, mainly that there was no lens hood included, you have to take the battery out of the camera to charge it & the lens cap doesn't have a tie hole on it (so very easy to drop or misplace). I know these are really only little things but there little things that you just expect to be included when spending £450..

overall though a very good little camera, I can't fault the design & like I said above it produces very nice crisp shots.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Lovely camera, but beware one crucial flaw.
I've had this camera for about a month now and I'm pretty satisfied with image quality, ease of use, size, weight etc. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lewis Davis
1.0 out of 5 stars unreliable camera.
Disappointed with this camera. Compared to nikon, and other brands, you cannot trust it.
Every time I turn on the camera, the first shot is always black. Read more
Published 13 months ago by jwoodg8
5.0 out of 5 stars Fair pics for good nuggets.
Don't have much to say about it much more then it lived up to my expectations and even raised above it. Really great DSLR for a fair amount of nuggets.
Published on 21 Mar 2011 by DanielEkeroth
4.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch for beginners but will be outgrown quickly.
I purchased this camera as a complete novice with no idea about photography and it served me brilliantly for a long time. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2010 by JabberwockJess
5.0 out of 5 stars ideal gift
Bought this for my daughter's 17th birthday, along with sigma 70mm-300mm f4-5.6 macro dg lens for sony digital cameras. I now apparently am a BOOM dad! She loves it. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2010 by Dermott M. John
3.0 out of 5 stars GOOD BUT ONLY THIS
Good features, lightweight, but picture quality is difficult to improve upon a good compacts with the default settings. At the £300 mark there is a lot of competition, e.g. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2010 by Jamn
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING
I cannot begin to tell you what a fantastic camera this is! we leave the UK for good in Sept and have been taking portraits of all of our family to take with us FAB! Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2010 by Di
5.0 out of 5 stars safari stunner
been on recent safari to kenya, camera was brilliant,used in conjunction with zoom lens,battery lasted all day ,took 2 with me + 16gb memory card,overall could not complain at any... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2010 by susan dainton
5.0 out of 5 stars My first DSLR
I've owned a 35mm Minolta before and was a bit gutted to find that they no longer made DSLRs as I wanted to be able to use my old lenses! Read more
Published on 18 July 2010 by R Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Great first DSLR
This is my first DSLR and was worried that it would be a bit complicated as I've only ever had fairly simple point-and-shoot compacts before. Well, I was wrong. Read more
Published on 30 May 2010 by Darren McCormac
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