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Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500

Portability
84
Imaging
53
Features
39
Overall
47
Ricoh GXR Mount A12 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Ricoh GXR Mount A12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 1/9000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • 370g - 120 x 70 x 45mm
  • Released August 2011
Sony A500
(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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Ricoh GXR Mount A12 and Sony A500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Ricoh and Sony. The resolution of the GXR Mount A12 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The GXR Mount A12 was launched 24 months later than the A500 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh GXR Mount A12 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GXR Mount A12 grades vs the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GXR Mount A12 over the Sony A500

 GXR Mount A12 A500 
RevealedAugust 2011August 2009Fresher by 24 months
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Ricoh GXR Mount A12

 A500 GXR Mount A12 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh GXR Mount A12 and Sony A500

 GXR Mount A12 A500 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Ricoh GXR Mount A12 provides exterior measurements of 120mm x 70mm x 45mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.8") with a weight of 370 grams (0.82 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh GXR Mount A12 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the GXR Mount A12 compared to the A500.

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GXR Mount A12 and A500 is 84 and 63 respectively.

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GXR Mount A12 and A500.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of photos though you will need to consider the production date of the cameras into account. The younger GXR Mount A12 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Portrait photography details
Sony A500 Portrait photography details
55
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
low MP (12MP)
62
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Street photography info
Sony A500 Street photography info
65
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Sports photography information
Sony A500 Sports photography information
39
great max shutter speed (1/9,000 seconds)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
does not have phase detect AF
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
60
flash built-in
good maximum aperture (f)
no Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
43
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (520 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
52
focusing manually
good maximum aperture (f)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
no Timelapse function
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (520 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Vlogging details
Sony A500 Vlogging details
26
good maximum aperture (f)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Ricoh GXR Mount A12 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GXR Mount A12 and Sony A500
 Ricoh GXR Mount A12Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-08-05 2009-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 2848 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range () -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/9000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.60 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 370 gr (0.82 lb) 630 gr (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 70 x 45mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 330 images 520 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DB-90 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (5 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $349 $638