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Sony A380 vs Sony WX500

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Old Model is Sony A350
  • Replacement is Sony A390
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Older Model is Sony WX350
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Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Sony A380 and Sony WX500, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the A380 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the A380 (APS-C) and WX500 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The A380 was introduced 6 years earlier than the WX500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the A380 matches up versus the WX500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony WX500

 A380 WX500 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony A380

 WX500 A380 
LaunchedApril 2015August 2009Fresher by 68 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony WX500

 A380 WX500 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A380 comes with physical dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Examine the Sony A380 and Sony WX500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the A380 against the WX500.

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A380 and WX500 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The photograph below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A380 and WX500.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A380 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony WX500 will deliver extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older A380 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
39
MP count good (18MP)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A380 Street photography features
Sony WX500 Street photography features
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
70
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (236 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
bad battery (500 shots)
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (360 per charge)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 Travel photography information
Sony WX500 Travel photography information
54
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (500 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
71
good battery life (360 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A380
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery (500 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
49
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
good battery life (360 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 Vlogging information
Sony WX500 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
35
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
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Sony A380 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony WX500
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-24 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 519 grams (1.14 pounds) 236 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 614 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 360 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $899 $348