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Sony A500 vs Sony RX1

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Launched August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced February 2013
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Sony A500 vs Sony RX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and RX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The A500 was released 4 years before the RX1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A500 scores against the RX1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony RX1

 A500 RX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony A500

 RX1 A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013August 2009More recent by 42 months
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony RX1

 A500 RX1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A500 enjoys outside 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 RX1 has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the A500 against the RX1.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and RX1 is 63 and 79 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The photograph underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A500 and RX1.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A500 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony RX1 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively. The older A500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Portrait photography camera
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
82
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography information
Sony RX1 Sports photography information
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
53
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
43
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery (520 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors in class (482 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX1 Landscape photography highlights
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
65
manual focus
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging advice
Sony RX1 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
34
great max aperture (f2.0)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482g)
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony RX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-27 2013-02-19
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630g (1.39 lb) 482g (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 64 93
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 14.3
DXO Low light score 772 2534
Other
Battery life 520 images 270 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BX1
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $638 $2,798