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Sony A500 vs Sony QX30

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
46
Features
37
Overall
42

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Launched August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
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Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Sony A500 and Sony QX30, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Lens-style and both are designed by Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The A500 was launched 6 years prior to the QX30 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the A500 grades against the QX30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony QX30

 A500 QX30 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution230k0kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A500

 QX30 A500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014August 2009Fresher by 61 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony QX30

 A500 QX30 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A500 offers external dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has proportions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A500 and Sony QX30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the A500 vs the QX30.

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A500 and QX30 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The visual here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and QX30.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A500 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony QX30 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older A500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography information
Sony QX30 Portrait photography information
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
39
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography highlights
Sony QX30 Street photography highlights
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
48
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
43
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
65
supports focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
Sony QX30 Landscape photography advice
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
40
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inch)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging features
Sony QX30 Vlogging features
9
no video recording
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Sony A500 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Entry-Level DSLR Lens-style
Launched 2009-08-27 2014-09-03
Body design Compact SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor 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
Highest Possible resolution 4272 x 2848 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches -
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 630g (1.39 lb) 193g (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 200 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $638 $348