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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500

Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40
Samsung MV800 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Samsung MV800
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 121g - 92 x 56 x 10mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Samsung MV800 and Sony A500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Samsung and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the MV800 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the MV800 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The MV800 was launched 2 years after the A500 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Samsung MV800 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the MV800 scores versus the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung MV800 over the Sony A500

 MV800 A500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011August 2009More modern by 25 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung MV800

 A500 MV800 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Samsung MV800 and Sony A500

 MV800 A500 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Samsung MV800 features external measurements of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Samsung MV800 and Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the MV800 vs the A500.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the MV800 and A500 is 97 and 63 respectively.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the MV800 and A500.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The MV800 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Samsung MV800 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern MV800 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung MV800 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Samsung MV800 Street photography highlights
Sony A500 Street photography highlights
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung MV800 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (520 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Samsung MV800 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competitors (121g)
boasts focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
43
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery (520 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung MV800 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
43
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery (520 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung MV800
Vlogging with Sony A500
34
quite wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competitors (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung MV800 and Sony A500
 Samsung MV800Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung MV800 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-09-01 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD 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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.20 m 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30/15 fps), 640 x 480 (30/15 fps), 320 x 240 (30/15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121g (0.27 pounds) 630g (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 92 x 56 x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 520 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID BP70 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Micro SD SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $499 $638