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Sony A500 vs Sony WX5

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Revealed July 2010
Photography Glossary

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony A500 vs Sony WX5, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. The image resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the A500 (APS-C) and WX5 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The A500 was announced 10 months before the WX5 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the A500 scores against the WX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony WX5

 A500 WX5 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Sony A500

 WX5 A500 
RevealedJuly 2010August 2009More recent by 10 months
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony WX5

 A500 WX5 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A500 has outer 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) while the Sony WX5 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Examine the Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the A500 and the WX5.

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and WX5 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The graphic below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A500 and WX5.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The A500 comes with the bigger sensor which should make achieving bokeh easier. The older A500 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony WX5
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography highlights
Sony WX5 Street photography highlights
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography info
Sony WX5 Sports photography info
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography information
Sony WX5 Travel photography information
43
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (520 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography info
Sony WX5 Landscape photography info
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX5 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
32
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
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Sony A500 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony WX5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-08-27 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
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 area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4272 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.8 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 grams (1.39 lb) 146 grams (0.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $638 $250