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Sony A500 vs Sony G3

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Sony A500
(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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Sony A500 and Sony G3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the G3 (10MP) is relatively close but the A500 (APS-C) and G3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The A500 was revealed 8 months after the G3 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A500 grades against the G3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony G3

 A500 G3 
AnnouncedAugust 2009January 2009More modern by 8 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Sony A500

 G3 A500 
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony G3

 A500 G3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A500 has got physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony G3 has sizing of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Check the Sony A500 and Sony G3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the A500 and the G3.

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and G3 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by viewing technical specs. The image below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and G3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A500 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A500 will result in more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern A500 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography factors
Sony G3 Portrait photography factors
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
26
manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography info
Sony G3 Street photography info
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography info
Sony G3 Sports photography info
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (520 per charge)
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony G3 as a Travel photography camera
43
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low battery (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony G3 as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
36
manual focus
bigger than average screen (3.5")
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging information
Sony G3 Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
27
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Sony A500 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony G3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-27 2009-01-08
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4272 x 2848 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.5 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 1 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lb) 185 gr (0.41 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 520 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $638 $200