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Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX300
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Sony A500 and Sony HX400V, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and HX400V (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The A500 was released 5 years prior to the HX400V and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the A500 matches up against the HX400V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony HX400V

 A500 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Sony A500

 HX400V A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014August 2009More recent by 54 months
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony HX400V

 A500 HX400V 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A500 provides outside dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the A500 against the HX400V.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and HX400V is 63 and 62 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and HX400V.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A500 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX400V will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older A500 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX400V Portrait photography highlights
63
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
51
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography highlights
Sony HX400V Street photography highlights
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competitors (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Sports photography camera
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography features
Sony HX400V Travel photography features
43
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
53
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (660 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX400V Landscape photography highlights
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (520 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX400V Vlogging highlights
9
no video recording
29
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors (660g)
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony HX400V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-08-27 2014-02-12
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4272 x 2848 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lb) 660 gr (1.46 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 300 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $638 $448