Both Sony A230 and Sony A100 have APS-C sized 10.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.
Below you can see the A230 and A100 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A230 and Sony A100 Cameras
Sony A230 and Sony A100 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Sony A230 and Sony A100 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A230 has scored 63, 2 points higher than A100.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Sony A230
63
22.3 bits
11.4 Evs
531 ISO
Sony A100
61
22.0 bits
11.2 Evs
476 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Sony A230
or the
Sony A100 ,
including hyperfocal distance.