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Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
78
Features
62
Overall
71

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 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
  • Launched August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Revealed September 2018
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Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Sony A500 versus Zeiss ZX1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Sony and Zeiss. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and ZX1 (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The A500 was revealed 10 years before the ZX1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the A500 grades versus the ZX1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Zeiss ZX1

 A500 ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Sony A500

 ZX1 A500 
RevealedSeptember 2018August 2009Newer by 110 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimension4.34"3"Larger display (+1.34")
Display resolution2765k230kClearer display (+2535k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A500 and Zeiss ZX1

 A500 ZX1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A500 comes with 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) whilst the Zeiss ZX1 has proportions of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Sony A500 versus Zeiss ZX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the A500 against the ZX1.

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and ZX1 is 63 and 67 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking specs. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A500 and ZX1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A500 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Zeiss ZX1 will give more detail because of its extra 25MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A500 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography features
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography features
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
86
manual focus
great megapixels (37 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography advice
Zeiss ZX1 Street photography advice
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
70
fully articulated screen
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
features focus via touch
very good ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (800g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography advice
Zeiss ZX1 Sports photography advice
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
64
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
great megapixels (37 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A500
Travel photography with Zeiss ZX1
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
65
supports bluetooth
features focus via touch
great megapixels (37 megapixels)
very good max aperture (f2)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (800g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Zeiss ZX1
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
69
manual focus
very good max aperture (f2)
screen larger than average (4.34 inch)
great megapixels (37 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Zeiss ZX1
9
no video
31
very good max aperture (f2)
touchscreen functionality
has face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competition in class (800 grams)
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Sony A500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Zeiss ZX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Zeiss ZX1
General Information
Make Sony Zeiss
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Zeiss ZX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-27 2018-09-27
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 37 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4272 x 2848 7488 x 4992
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 255
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture - f/2-22
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 4.34"
Screen resolution 230k dot 2,765k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo 512GB internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $638 -