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Sony A500 vs Sony S2100

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Renewed by Sony A560
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony A500 versus Sony S2100, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. The resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is fairly similar but the A500 (APS-C) and S2100 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The A500 was brought out 4 months earlier than the S2100 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A500 scores vs the S2100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony S2100

 A500 S2100 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony A500

 S2100 A500 

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony S2100

 A500 S2100 
RevealedAugust 2009January 2010Similar age
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A500 features 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) whilst the Sony S2100 has sizing of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A500 versus Sony S2100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A500 vs the S2100.

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and S2100 is 63 and 93 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and S2100.

Clearly, both the cameras posses the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The A500 offers the larger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult.

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony S2100
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography information
Sony S2100 Street photography information
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
46
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A500
Sports photography with Sony S2100
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
17
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200 seconds)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography details
Sony S2100 Travel photography details
43
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery (520 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
27
screen size is good (3 inches)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony S2100
9
no video
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Sony A500 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony S2100
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-08-27 2010-01-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630 grams (1.39 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 520 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $638 $0