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Sony A500 vs Sony W610

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610 front
Portability
97
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 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
  • Launched August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
Sony W610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Sony A500 vs Sony W610 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Sony A500 vs Sony W610, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. The resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the W610 (14MP) is pretty close but the A500 (APS-C) and W610 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The A500 was unveiled 3 years before the W610 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W610 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the A500 scores versus the W610 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony W610

 A500 W610 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W610 over the Sony A500

 W610 A500 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2009More recent by 28 months

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony W610

 A500 W610 
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 comes with outer 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 W610 has measurements of 93mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check out the Sony A500 vs Sony W610 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the A500 and the W610.

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and W610 is 63 and 97 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and W610.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A500 with its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Sony W610 will render greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older A500 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony W610 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W610 as a Portrait photography camera
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A500
Street photography with Sony W610
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
56
lighter than competition (113 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W610 as a Sports photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (520 per charge)
26
good MP (14 megapixels)
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography advice
Sony W610 Travel photography advice
43
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (520 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (113g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W610 Landscape photography highlights
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
33
relatively wide (26mm)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging information
Sony W610 Vlogging information
9
no video
28
relatively wide (26mm)
lighter than competition (113 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone port
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Sony A500 vs Sony W610 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony W610
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-27 2012-01-10
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-105mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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 file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630 grams (1.39 lb) 113 grams (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 93 x 52 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 pictures 250 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $638 $200