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Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Nikon Coolpix S4000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Nikon S4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 27-108mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 95 x 57 x 20mm
  • Revealed February 2010
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Renewed by Sony A560
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Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S4000 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly similar but the S4000 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The S4000 was released 6 months after the A500 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon S4000 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the S4000 matches up versus the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S4000 over the Sony A500

 S4000 A500 
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Nikon S4000

 A500 S4000 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon S4000 and Sony A500

 S4000 A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2010August 2009Similar age
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon S4000 offers external dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the S4000 versus the A500.

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the S4000 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S4000 and A500.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same MP but different sensor sizes. The S4000 has the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF trickier.

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S4000
Portrait photography with Sony A500
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon S4000 Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
48
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S4000 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
17
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S4000 Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
58
built-in flash
rather wide (27mm)
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
43
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S4000 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A500 Landscape photography highlights
32
rather wide (27mm)
nice screen size (3")
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (520 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S4000 Vlogging information
Sony A500 Vlogging information
28
rather wide (27mm)
built-in touchscreen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon S4000 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S4000 and Sony A500
 Nikon Coolpix S4000Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix S4000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-02-03 2009-08-27
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor 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
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 27-108mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 8cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 gr (0.29 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") 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 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL10 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $200 $638