Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500
99 Imaging
38 Features
29 Overall
34


63 Imaging
51 Features
52 Overall
51
Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 3200
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-130mm (F) lens
- n/ag - 102 x 57 x 19mm
- Announced January 2011
(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
- New Model is Sony A560

Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Overview
Lets look more in depth at the Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the ST6500 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the ST6500 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

The ST6500 was manufactured 17 months after the A500 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung ST6500 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the ST6500 matches up versus the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung ST6500 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The entire galleries are provided at Samsung ST6500 Gallery & Sony A500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Samsung ST6500 over the Sony A500
ST6500 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | January 2011 | ![]() | August 2009 | More modern by 17 months |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+230k dot) |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung ST6500
A500 | ST6500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Common features in the Samsung ST6500 and Sony A500
ST6500 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen sizing |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen |
Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Samsung ST6500 provides outer measurements of 102mm x 57mm x 19mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).
Check out the Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the ST6500 compared to the A500.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ST6500 and A500 is 99 and 63 respectively.

Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ST6500 and A500.
As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ST6500 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Samsung ST6500 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher ST6500 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung ST6500 vs Sony A500 Specifications
Samsung ST6500 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Samsung | Sony |
Model type | Samsung ST6500 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 |
Category | Ultracompact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2011-01-19 | 2009-08-27 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4272 x 2848 |
Max native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 200 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 26-130mm (5.0x) | - |
Number of lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Screen resolution | 460k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 8 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | - | 5.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | - | 12.00 m |
Flash options | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | none | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | - | 630 grams (1.39 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 102 x 57 x 19mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.7") | 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 | - | 520 pictures |
Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | - | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | - | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Launch pricing | - | $638 |