Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500
69 Imaging
54 Features
84 Overall
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63 Imaging
51 Features
52 Overall
51
Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600 (Expand to 25600)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 3840 x 2160 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
- Announced September 2016
- Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-G80
- Successor is Panasonic G95
(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
- Launched August 2009
- Newer Model is Sony A560

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Overview
In this article, we are matching up the Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the G85 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the G85 (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

The G85 was launched 7 years later than the A500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the G85 grades vs the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic G85 Gallery & Sony A500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Sony A500
G85 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | September 2016 | ![]() | August 2009 | Fresher by 86 months |
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 1040k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+810k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic G85
A500 | G85 |
---|
Common features in the Panasonic G85 and Sony A500
G85 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display size |
Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G85 offers outer measurements of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") and a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).
Check out the Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the G85 vs the A500.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G85 and A500 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the G85 and A500.
Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The G85 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic G85 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer G85 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A500 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 |
Also Known as | Lumix DMC-G80 | - |
Type | Advanced Mirrorless | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2016-09-19 | 2009-08-27 |
Body design | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 12MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4592 x 3448 | 4272 x 2848 |
Highest native ISO | 25600 | 12800 |
Highest boosted ISO | 25600 | - |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 200 |
RAW files | ||
Minimum boosted ISO | 100 | - |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 49 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Available lenses | 107 | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Screen size | 3" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 1,040 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360 thousand dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.74x | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Highest silent shutter speed | 1/16000 seconds | - |
Continuous shooting speed | 9.0 frames per second | 5.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.20 m (at ISO 100) | 12.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC | - |
Highest video resolution | 3840x2160 | None |
Video file format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | - |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 505 gr (1.11 lb) | 630 gr (1.39 lb) |
Dimensions | 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 71 | 64 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.8 | 21.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.5 | 11.6 |
DXO Low light rating | 656 | 772 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 330 photographs | 520 photographs |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC card | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at launch | $900 | $638 |