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Sony A500 vs Sony HX1

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

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
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Sony A500 vs Sony HX1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and HX1 (1/2.4") enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The A500 was revealed 5 months after the HX1 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the A500 scores vs the HX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony HX1

 A500 HX1 

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony A500

 HX1 A500 

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony HX1

 A500 HX1 
LaunchedAugust 2009April 2009Same age
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A500 enjoys exterior measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony HX1 has proportions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the A500 compared to the HX1.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A500 and HX1 is 63 and 67 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing specs. The image below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A500 and HX1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A500 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony A500 will provide greater detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography features
Sony HX1 Portrait photography features
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
27
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
resolution not great (9MP)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony HX1
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW files
heavier than average (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A500
Sports photography with Sony HX1
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography factors
Sony HX1 Travel photography factors
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (520 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
48
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (544g)
resolution not great (9MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
39
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
22
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
low res video (1440 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
heavier than average (544 grams)
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony HX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-27 2009-04-22
Body design Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 9MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1440x1080
Video format - H.264
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 grams (1.39 pounds) 544 grams (1.20 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $638 $47,999