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Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Sony A500 and Sony HX7V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and HX7V (16MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and HX7V (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The A500 was introduced 23 months prior to the HX7V which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the A500 grades vs the HX7V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony HX7V

 A500 HX7V 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Sony A500

 HX7V A500 
ReleasedJuly 2011August 2009More recent by 23 months
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony HX7V

 A500 HX7V 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 provides outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony HX7V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Sony A500 and Sony HX7V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the A500 vs the HX7V.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and HX7V is 63 and 92 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The visual below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and HX7V.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A500 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony HX7V will result in greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older A500 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX7V Portrait photography highlights
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
30
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography features
Sony HX7V Street photography features
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography factors
Sony HX7V Sports photography factors
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Travel photography camera
43
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 shots)
no Timelapse mode
42
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX7V as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
32
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony HX7V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-27 2011-07-19
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4272 x 2848 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lbs) 208 gr (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 pictures -
Form of battery 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 recording
Storage media 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 One One
Launch cost $638 $499