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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced July 2020
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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Nikon Z5 and Sony A500, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and A500 (12MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and A500 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The Z5 was launched 11 years after the A500 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the Z5 grades vs the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Sony A500

 Z5 A500 
IntroducedJuly 2020August 2009More modern by 133 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Nikon Z5

 A500 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Sony A500

 Z5 A500 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon Z5 offers exterior dimensions of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Nikon Z5 and Sony A500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the Z5 vs the A500.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and A500 is 62 and 63 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by reading technical specs. The picture here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the Z5 and A500.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The Z5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon Z5 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The younger Z5 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography info
Sony A500 Portrait photography info
85
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z5 Street photography details
Sony A500 Street photography details
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
includes touch focus
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than average in class (675 grams)
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery power (470 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames per second)
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
low battery life (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
68
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
includes touch focus
MP count good (24MP)
heavier than average in class (675g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (520 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z5 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
86
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
has dual storage slots
60
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
low battery life (520 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
heavier than average in class (675g)
9
can't record video
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Sony A500
 Nikon Z5Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Z5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2020-07-20 2009-08-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6016 x 4016 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 273 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon Z Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 15 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.5fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 675 grams (1.49 lbs) 630 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 470 photographs 520 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15c NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch price $1,399 $638