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Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500

Portability
90
Imaging
62
Features
60
Overall
61
Samsung NX1100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Samsung NX1100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 222g - 114 x 63 x 37mm
  • Introduced April 2013
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX1000
  • Successor is Samsung NX2000
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
  • Released August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Samsung NX1100 versus Sony A500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the NX1100 (20MP) and A500 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NX1100 was manufactured 3 years later than the A500 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung NX1100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the NX1100 scores versus the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX1100 over the Sony A500

 NX1100 A500 
ReleasedApril 2013August 2009Fresher by 45 months
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung NX1100

 A500 NX1100 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Samsung NX1100 and Sony A500

 NX1100 A500 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX1100 offers outer measurements of 114mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 222 grams (0.49 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).

Look at the Samsung NX1100 versus Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the NX1100 vs the A500.

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX1100 and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by checking specifications. The photograph here should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the NX1100 and A500.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Samsung NX1100 to resolve more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern NX1100 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX1100 Portrait photography details
Sony A500 Portrait photography details
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX1100 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
73
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (222 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX1100 Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
56
resolution is good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX1100
Travel photography with Sony A500
68
lighter than others in class (222g)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (520 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX1100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
resolution is good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (520 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX1100
Vlogging with Sony A500
34
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (222 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic support
9
no video
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Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX1100 and Sony A500
 Samsung NX1100Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX1100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-04-11 2009-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 222g (0.49 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 63 x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 64
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 11.6
DXO Low light rating 852 772
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 520 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BC1030 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $638