Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500
92 Imaging
34 Features
20 Overall
28


63 Imaging
51 Features
52 Overall
51
Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot A2100 IS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The entire galleries are available at Canon A2100 IS Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.
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 type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Sony A500
A2100 IS | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2009 | ![]() | August 2009 | Similar generation |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical screen dimensions |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Sony A500 Specifications
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS | Sony 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 |