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Sony A500 vs Sony W310

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 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
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
Sony W310
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 95 x 55 x 19mm
  • Released January 2010
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Sony A500 vs Sony W310 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Sony A500 vs Sony W310, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the W310 (12MP) is fairly close but the A500 (APS-C) and W310 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A500 was brought out 4 months before the W310 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W310 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A500 matches up against the W310 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony W310

 A500 W310 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W310 over the Sony A500

 W310 A500 

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony W310

 A500 W310 
ReleasedAugust 2009January 2010Same generation
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A500 enjoys physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony W310 has proportions of 95mm x 55mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs).

Examine the Sony A500 vs Sony W310 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the A500 and the W310.

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and W310 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and W310.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The A500 comes with the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult.

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony W310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography info
Sony W310 Portrait photography info
63
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography information
Sony W310 Street photography information
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography advice
Sony W310 Sports photography advice
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
25
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
Sony W310 Travel photography highlights
43
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
Sony W310 Landscape photography factors
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W310 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
29
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Sony A500 vs Sony W310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony W310
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-08-27 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor 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 Possible resolution 4272 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.8
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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) 137 gr (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 95 x 55 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $638 $150