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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Older Model is Sony RX100
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 III
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and RX100 II (1") posses different sensor size.

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The A500 was manufactured 4 years before the RX100 II and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the A500 grades vs the RX100 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony RX100 II

 A500 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Sony A500

 RX100 II A500 
RevealedJune 2013August 2009Fresher by 46 months
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony RX100 II

 A500 RX100 II 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 enjoys physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 II has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the A500 and the RX100 II.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and RX100 II is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The graphic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and RX100 II.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A500 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 II will resolve extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older A500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
70
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony RX100 II
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A500
Sports photography with Sony RX100 II
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (520 per charge)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
great battery power (350 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Travel photography highlights
43
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low battery pack (520 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
80
great battery power (350 CIPA)
lighter than competition (281g)
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography details
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (520 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
74
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
great battery power (350 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony RX100 II
9
no video shooting
37
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (281g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony RX100 II
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-27 2013-06-27
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4272 x 2848 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW support
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lb) 281 gr (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 67
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 12.4
DXO Low light score 772 483
Other
Battery life 520 pictures 350 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $638 $598