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Nikon D500 vs Sony A77

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Superseded the Nikon D300S
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony A700
  • Refreshed by Sony A77 II
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Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Nikon D500 vs Sony A77, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D500 (21MP) and the A77 (24MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D500 was revealed 4 years after the A77 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the D500 scores versus the A77 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Sony A77

 D500 A77 
RevealedJanuary 2016October 2011More modern by 52 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2359k921kClearer screen (+1438k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Nikon D500

 A77 D500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Sony A77

 D500 A77 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon D500 features exterior dimensions of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the D500 vs the A77.

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D500 and A77 is 56 and 59 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D500 and A77.

Clearly, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony A77 to give more detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The newer D500 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 Portrait photography features
Sony A77 Portrait photography features
79
you can focus manually
good megapixels (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
77
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D500
Street photography with Sony A77
68
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
74
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D500
Sports photography with Sony A77
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery pack (1,240 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
74
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
not so great battery life (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 Travel photography highlights
Sony A77 Travel photography highlights
68
great battery pack (1,240 per charge)
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (21MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
62
environment proofing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (470 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 Landscape photography advice
Sony A77 Landscape photography advice
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
great battery pack (1,240 CIPA)
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery life (470 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D500
Vlogging with Sony A77
31
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
76
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
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Nikon D500 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Sony A77
 Nikon D500Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D500 Sony SLT-A77
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-01-05 2011-10-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 5 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5568 x 3712 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 51200 16000
Highest enhanced ISO 1640000 25600
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 153 19
Cross type focus points 99 11
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 2,359k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860g (1.90 lb) 732g (1.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 78
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 13.2
DXO Low light rating 1324 801
Other
Battery life 1240 pictures 470 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two Single
Retail cost $1,497 $900