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Sony A500 vs Sony H90

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
Sony H90
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 222g - 105 x 60 x 34mm
  • Released February 2012
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Sony A500 vs Sony H90 Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Sony A500 and Sony H90, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and H90 (16MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and H90 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The A500 was released 3 years prior to the H90 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the A500 matches up versus the H90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony H90

 A500 H90 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony H90 over the Sony A500

 H90 A500 
ReleasedFebruary 2012August 2009Fresher by 30 months
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony H90

 A500 H90 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 has got outer 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) while the Sony H90 has measurements of 105mm x 60mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A500 and Sony H90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the A500 against the H90.

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and H90 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specifications. The graphic below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A500 and H90.

To sum up, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A500 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony H90 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older A500 will be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony H90 as a Portrait photography camera
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
36
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony H90
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (222 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H90 as a Sports photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
44
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H90 as a Travel photography camera
43
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (222 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography info
Sony H90 Landscape photography info
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery (520 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
44
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony H90
9
lack of video recording
32
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (222g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Sony A500 vs Sony H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony H90
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-08-27 2012-02-28
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz 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 surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4272 x 2848 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 grams (1.39 pounds) 222 grams (0.49 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 105 x 60 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 520 photographs 290 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $638 $230