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Sony A9 vs Sony A500

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Sony A9 and Sony A500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are built by Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and A500 (12MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and A500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A9 was released 7 years later than the A500 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A9 matches up vs the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony A500

 A9 A500 
IntroducedApril 2017August 2009More recent by 94 months
Display resolution1440k230kClearer display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A9

 A500 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony A500

 A9 A500 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A9 comes with outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

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Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the A9 versus the A500.

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A9 and A500 is 65 and 63 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A9 and A500.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A9 due to its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony A9 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern A9 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
83
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 Street photography info
Sony A500 Street photography info
79
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus via touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (650 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
73
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A9
Landscape photography with Sony A500
85
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
better than average battery life (650 shots)
two card slots
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (520 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
9
can't shoot video
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Sony A9 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony A500
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2017-04-19 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,440k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 673g (1.48 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 92 64
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 11.6
DXO Low light rating 3517 772
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 520 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual One
Price at release $4,498 $638