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Sony A100 vs Sony A500

Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Announced July 2006
  • Previous Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Later Model is Sony A550
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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Updated by Sony A560
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Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Sony A100 and Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and they are both created by Sony. The image resolution of the A100 (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very comparable and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A100 was brought out 4 years before the A500 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the A100 matches up vs the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Sony A500

 A100 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A100

 A500 A100 
AnnouncedAugust 2009July 2006More recent by 37 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Sony A100 and Sony A500

 A100 A500 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A100 has exterior measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs) and the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Sony A100 and Sony A500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A100 versus the A500.

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A100 and A500 is 64 and 63 respectively.

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A100 and A500.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony A500 to provide more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older A100 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A100 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
52
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Sony A100 Street photography details
Sony A500 Street photography details
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A100 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
45
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
43
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A100 Landscape photography advice
Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
53
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery (520 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A100
Vlogging with Sony A500
9
lack of video recording
9
can't shoot video
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Sony A100 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A100 and Sony A500
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2006-07-31 2009-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 638g (1.41 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 61 64
DXO Color Depth score 22.0 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 11.6
DXO Low light score 476 772
Other
Battery life - 520 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM55H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $1,000 $638