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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA 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 RX100 VA
(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
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced July 2018
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Sony A500 versus Sony RX100 VA, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and RX100 VA (20MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") come with different sensor sizes.

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The A500 was unveiled 10 years before the RX100 VA which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A500 grades against the RX100 VA with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony RX100 VA

 A500 RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony A500

 RX100 VA A500 
IntroducedJuly 2018August 2009More modern by 108 months
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony RX100 VA

 A500 RX100 VA 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A500 offers external measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VA has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A500 versus Sony RX100 VA in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the A500 and the RX100 VA.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A500 and RX100 VA is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The image underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A500 and RX100 VA.

Plainly, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A500 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 VA will provide more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The more aged A500 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Portrait photography camera
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
66
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony RX100 VA
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
86
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (299 grams)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography features
Sony RX100 VA Sports photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
70
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A500
Travel photography with Sony RX100 VA
43
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
76
lighter than competition (299g)
resolution is good (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 VA
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
66
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony RX100 VA
9
can't shoot video
81
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (299g)
no external microphone support
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony RX100 VA
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-27 2018-07-13
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 116.2mm²
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
Full resolution 4272 x 2848 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lbs) 299 gr (0.66 lbs)
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 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 220 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $638 $998