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Nikon D500 vs Sony A99

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D300S
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Introduced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Nikon D500 vs Sony A99, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the D500 (21MP) and the A99 (24MP) is relatively comparable but the D500 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor size.

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The D500 was released 3 years later than the A99 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the D500 grades against the A99 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Sony A99

 D500 A99 
IntroducedJanuary 2016December 2012Fresher by 38 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2359k1229kSharper screen (+1130k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Nikon D500

 A99 D500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Sony A99

 D500 A99 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D500 has got external dimensions of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the D500 against the A99.

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D500 and A99 is 56 and 57 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by seeing specs. The graphic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the D500 and A99.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The D500 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A99 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The younger D500 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 Portrait photography features
Sony A99 Portrait photography features
79
manual focus
decent MP (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
82
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D500 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
68
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
environment proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D500 Sports photography information
Sony A99 Sports photography information
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent MP (21 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery pack (1,240 shots)
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
68
great battery pack (1,240 CIPA)
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
features focus via touch
decent MP (21MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
77
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
decent MP (21 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery pack (1,240 shots)
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
31
touchscreen functionality
has face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
76
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic support
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Nikon D500 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Sony A99
 Nikon D500Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D500 Sony SLT-A99
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-01-05 2012-12-12
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 5 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max enhanced ISO 1640000 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 153 19
Cross type focus points 99 11
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 2,359 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/250s
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)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 gr (1.90 lb) 812 gr (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 89
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 14.0
DXO Low light rating 1324 1555
Other
Battery life 1240 photographs 500 photographs
Battery style 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) Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Dual Dual
Launch pricing $1,497 $1,998