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Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Older Model is Samsung NX300
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Newer Model is Sony a5100
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Samsung NX500 and Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and a5000 (20MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX500 was manufactured 14 months later than the a5000 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the NX500 matches up against the a5000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Sony a5000

 NX500 a5000 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2014More recent by 14 months
Screen resolution1036k461kClearer screen (+575k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Samsung NX500

 a5000 NX500 

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Sony a5000

 NX500 a5000 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX500 comes with external measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Sony a5000 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Samsung NX500 and Sony a5000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the NX500 against the a5000.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the NX500 and a5000 is 87 and 89 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The photograph below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the NX500 and a5000.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Samsung NX500 to produce extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer NX500 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX500 Portrait photography details
Sony a5000 Portrait photography details
80
you can focus manually
excellent megapixels (28MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
70
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Street photography camera
81
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Samsung NX500 Sports photography features
Sony a5000 Sports photography features
75
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
excellent megapixels (28 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
59
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (420 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX500
Travel photography with Sony a5000
78
connects via bluetooth
has touch focus
excellent megapixels (28MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
78
good battery life (420 shots)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX500 Landscape photography advice
Sony a5000 Landscape photography advice
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3")
excellent megapixels (28MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (420 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX500 Vlogging advice
Sony a5000 Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
32
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external mic socket
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Sony a5000
 Samsung NX500Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX500 Sony Alpha a5000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2014-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by DRIMe 5 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 28 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6480 x 4320 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 25600 16000
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 209 25
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony E
Number of lenses 32 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,036 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 287 gr (0.63 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 87 79
DXO Color Depth rating 24.8 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 13.0
DXO Low light rating 1379 1089
Other
Battery life 370 images 420 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1130 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $800 $448