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Sony A500 vs Sony A57

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Sony A500 vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony A500 and Sony A57, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both are produced by Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and A57 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The A500 was announced 4 years prior to the A57 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the A500 scores against the A57 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A57

 A500 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony A500

 A57 A500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012August 2009More modern by 37 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony A57

 A500 A57 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A500 comes with exterior dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Sony A500 and Sony A57 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the A500 compared to the A57.

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the A500 and A57 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The pic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and A57.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony A57 to show extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged A500 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A57 Portrait photography highlights
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A500
Sports photography with Sony A57
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (520 per charge)
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
43
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery (520 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
67
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography features
Sony A57 Landscape photography features
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony A57
9
can't shoot video
77
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic socket
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Sony A500 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony A57
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-08-27 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630g (1.39 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 64 75
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 772 785
Other
Battery life 520 images 550 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $638 $1,000