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Sony A500 vs Sony TX9

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 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
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony TX9
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 149g - 98 x 60 x 18mm
  • Released July 2010
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Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony A500 vs Sony TX9, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are built by Sony. The image resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the TX9 (12MP) is relatively close but the A500 (APS-C) and TX9 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The A500 was manufactured 10 months earlier than the TX9 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the A500 grades against the TX9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony TX9

 A500 TX9 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony TX9 over the Sony A500

 TX9 A500 
ReleasedJuly 2010August 2009More recent by 10 months
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony TX9

 A500 TX9 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A500 features physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony TX9 has sizing of 98mm x 60mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7") and a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the A500 compared to the TX9.

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and TX9 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and TX9.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The A500 features the bigger sensor which should make achieving bokeh easier. The older A500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony TX9
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
27
you can focus manually
no manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony TX9
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
60
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
Sony TX9 Sports photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery power (520 per charge)
34
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony TX9 as a Travel photography camera
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (520 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
supports touch to focus
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (149g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Sony TX9
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (520 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
41
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX9 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
32
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
heavier than competitors in class (149 grams)
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Sony A500 vs Sony TX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony TX9
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-08-27 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4272 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 lbs) 149 gr (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 98 x 60 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7")
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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $638 $799