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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Released August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 III
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 V
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and RX100 IV (20MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and RX100 IV (1") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The A500 was revealed 6 years earlier than the RX100 IV which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the A500 scores against the RX100 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony RX100 IV

 A500 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony A500

 RX100 IV A500 
LaunchedJune 2015August 2009Newer by 70 months
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony RX100 IV

 A500 RX100 IV 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 provides outside measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the A500 compared to the RX100 IV.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and RX100 IV is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out specifications. The picture below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A500 and RX100 IV.

Plainly, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A500 having a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony RX100 IV will provide extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged A500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography info
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
65
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography info
Sony RX100 IV Street photography info
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography features
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography features
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
68
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (16.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography factors
43
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
86
lighter than competitors in class (298g)
MP count good (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony RX100 IV
9
lack of video recording
81
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (298 grams)
no external mic jack
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony RX100 IV
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-08-27 2015-06-10
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4272 x 2848 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 16.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 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 - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 grams (1.39 lb) 298 grams (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.6
DXO Low light rating 772 562
Other
Battery life 520 shots 280 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $638 $898