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Sony A380 vs Sony A500

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A350
  • Replacement is Sony A390
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
  • Released August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Sony A380 vs Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and both are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A380 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The A380 was brought out at a similar time to the A500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the A380 scores vs the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony A500

 A380 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A380

 A500 A380 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony A500

 A380 A500 
ReleasedAugust 2009August 2009Similar generation
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony A380 features external dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Sony A380 vs Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the A380 against the A500.

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A380 and A500 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through specs. The photograph here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A380 and A500.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony A380 to give you more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 Portrait photography info
Sony A500 Portrait photography info
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
63
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Sony A380 Street photography information
Sony A500 Street photography information
77
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 Sports photography features
Sony A500 Sports photography features
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low battery power (500 shots)
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
54
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (500 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
43
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A380
Landscape photography with Sony A500
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low battery power (500 shots)
missing Timelapse function
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 Vlogging highlights
Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
9
lack of video recording
9
no video recording
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Sony A380 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony A500
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-08-24 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 519g (1.14 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 64
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 11.6
DXO Low light score 614 772
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 520 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $899 $638