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Sony A500 vs Sony S950

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 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
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony A500 vs Sony S950 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Sony A500 vs Sony S950, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the S950 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the A500 (APS-C) and S950 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The A500 was announced 7 months later than the S950 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A500 matches up against the S950 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony S950

 A500 S950 
AnnouncedAugust 2009February 2009More recent by 7 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony A500

 S950 A500 

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony S950

 A500 S950 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 features outside measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony S950 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony A500 vs Sony S950 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the A500 vs the S950.

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and S950 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A500 and S950.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A500 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony A500 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent A500 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S950 as a Portrait photography camera
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
26
manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
Sony S950 as a Street photography camera
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography information
Sony S950 Sports photography information
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 CIPA)
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A500
Travel photography with Sony S950
43
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography information
Sony S950 Landscape photography information
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
31
manual focus
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging features
Sony S950 Vlogging features
9
no video recording
9
no video shooting
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Sony A500 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony S950
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-08-27 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4272 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $638 $130