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Sony A500 vs Sony A77

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 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
  • Renewed by Sony A560
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony A700
  • New Model is Sony A77 II
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Sony A500 vs Sony A77 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Sony A500 versus Sony A77, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both created by Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and A77 (24MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The A500 was brought out 3 years earlier than the A77 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the A500 grades versus the A77 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A77

 A500 A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Sony A500

 A77 A500 
RevealedOctober 2011August 2009More modern by 26 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony A77

 A500 A77 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 provides exterior measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony A77 has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Compare the Sony A500 versus Sony A77 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the A500 versus the A77.

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A500 and A77 is 63 and 59 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The picture here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A500 and A77.

All in all, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony A77 to render extra detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged A500 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A77 as a Portrait photography camera
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography info
Sony A77 Street photography info
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
74
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography info
Sony A77 Sports photography info
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
74
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography factors
Sony A77 Travel photography factors
43
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (520 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
environment proof
megapixel count good (24MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (470 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Sony A77
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (470 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging details
Sony A77 Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
76
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
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Sony A500 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony A77
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony SLT-A77
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-08-27 2011-10-25
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4272 x 2848 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630g (1.39 pounds) 732g (1.61 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 13.2
DXO Low light rating 772 801
Other
Battery life 520 photos 470 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
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 Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $638 $900