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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31
Ricoh CX1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Ricoh CX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-200mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 180g - 102 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2009
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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Ricoh and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the CX1 (9MP) and A500 (12MP) and the CX1 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The CX1 was brought out 6 months prior to the A500 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh CX1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the CX1 grades vs the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX1 over the Sony A500

 CX1 A500 
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Ricoh CX1

 A500 CX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Ricoh CX1 and Sony A500

 CX1 A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2009August 2009Same age
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Ricoh CX1 enjoys physical dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the CX1 vs the A500.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the CX1 and A500 is 93 and 63 respectively.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specs. The image underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the CX1 and A500.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The CX1 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A500 will provide extra detail having its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Portrait photography information
Sony A500 Portrait photography information
25
manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
26
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Travel photography highlights
Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
59
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
43
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery (520 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh CX1
Landscape photography with Sony A500
42
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Vlogging highlights
Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX1 and Sony A500
 Ricoh CX1Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh CX1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-19 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Smooth Imaging Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 9 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3456 x 2592 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
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
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-200mm (7.1x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 grams (0.40 lbs) 630 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 type - Battery Pack
Battery model DB-70 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $299 $638