Sony A500 vs Sony W800

The following is a thorough assessment of the Sony A500 versus Sony W800, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and W800 (20MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and W800 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The A500 was released 5 years earlier than the W800 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W800 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the A500 grades against the W800 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony A500 Gallery and Sony W800 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 features outside measurements 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 W800 has measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Sony A500 versus Sony W800 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the A500 against the W800.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and W800 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Typically, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through specs. The pic here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A500 and W800.

All in all, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A500 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony W800 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged A500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.