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Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Canon A2100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-216mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 64 x 32mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the A2100 IS (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively similar but the A2100 IS (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The A2100 IS was brought out 6 months prior to the A500 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon A2100 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the A2100 IS matches up against the A500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A2100 IS over the Sony A500

 A2100 IS A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Canon A2100 IS

 A500 A2100 IS 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Sony A500

 A2100 IS A500 
ReleasedFebruary 2009August 2009Similar generation
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Canon A2100 IS offers outer measurements of 102mm x 64mm x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A2100 IS compared to the A500.

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A2100 IS and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over specs. The image here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A2100 IS and A500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The A2100 IS includes the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF more difficult.

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Portrait photography details
Sony A500 Portrait photography details
26
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
62
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A2100 IS
Street photography with Sony A500
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
50
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
50
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
43
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (520 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Landscape photography features
Sony A500 Landscape photography features
31
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (520 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Vlogging info
Sony A500 Vlogging info
27
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
no mic support
9
no video shooting
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Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A2100 IS and Sony A500
 Canon PowerShot A2100 ISSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-02-18 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 36-216mm (6.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 gr (0.41 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $220 $638