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Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R 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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Later Model is Sony RX1R II
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and RX1R (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The A500 was manufactured 4 years before the RX1R which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the A500 grades vs the RX1R in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony RX1R

 A500 RX1R 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A500

 RX1R A500 
LaunchedJune 2013August 2009More modern by 46 months
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony RX1R

 A500 RX1R 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A500 has external dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony RX1R has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the A500 and the RX1R.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A500 and RX1R is 63 and 79 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and RX1R.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A500 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony RX1R will offer extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged A500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony RX1R
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
82
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony RX1R
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Sports photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
53
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery power (270 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography information
Sony RX1R Travel photography information
43
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (520 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
62
MP count good (24MP)
has built in flash
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
more heavy than others in class (482g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Sony RX1R
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
66
you can focus manually
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery power (270 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging info
Sony RX1R Vlogging info
9
can't record video
34
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
provides face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (482 grams)
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Sony A500 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony RX1R
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-27 2013-06-26
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4272 x 2848 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Max aperture - f/2.0
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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, Rear Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
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 All around rating 64 91
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 13.6
DXO Low light rating 772 2537
Other
Battery life 520 pictures 270 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type 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 price $638 $2,798