Clicky

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX300
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A99
Photography Glossary

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the NX500 (APS-C) and A99 II (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The NX500 was released 19 months earlier than the A99 II which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the NX500 matches up versus the A99 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Sony A99 II

 NX500 A99 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Samsung NX500

 A99 II NX500 
LaunchedSeptember 2016February 2015Fresher by 19 months
Screen typeFully articulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k1036kSharper screen (+193k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Sony A99 II

 NX500 A99 II 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung NX500 comes with outer dimensions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 II has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") with a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Check the Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the NX500 and the A99 II.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the NX500 and A99 II is 87 and 57 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through specs. The visual below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX500 and A99 II.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The NX500 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A99 II will render more detail as a result of its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older NX500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX500
Portrait photography with Sony A99 II
80
manual focus
excellent resolution (28MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
86
you can focus manually
resolution is high (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Street photography camera
81
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
includes touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Sports Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Sports photography camera
75
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
excellent resolution (28MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (490 per charge)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Samsung NX500 Travel photography features
Sony A99 II Travel photography features
78
supports bluetooth
includes touch to focus
excellent resolution (28MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
resolution is high (42MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery power (490 CIPA)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX500
Landscape photography with Sony A99 II
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
excellent resolution (28 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
82
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (42 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (490 per charge)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX500 Vlogging advice
Sony A99 II Vlogging advice
34
screen is touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have microphone port
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Sony A99 II
 Samsung NX500Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX500 Sony Alpha A99 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2015-02-06 2016-09-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DRIMe 5 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 28 megapixels 42 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6480 x 4320 7952 x 5304
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 209 399
Cross focus points - 79
Lens
Lens mount Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,036k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 -
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video data format H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 287 gr (0.63 pounds) 849 gr (1.87 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 87 92
DXO Color Depth score 24.8 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 13.4
DXO Low light score 1379 2317
Other
Battery life 370 images 490 images
Battery form Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery model BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Storage slots 1 Two
Pricing at launch $800 $3,198