Entry-level DSLR Entry-level DSLR
August, 2009
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

Sony AlphaDSLR-A500

Summary Sony DSLR-A500

Prices Price
Body only Unknown With 18-55mm lens $803
all DSLR-A500 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 12 Among similar cameras #n/a of 18
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 23.5x15.6mm Screen resolution Help 230k dots
Megapixels Help 12.2 MP Movie format Help None
Screen size Help 3.0" Light sensitivity Help 12,800 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 lenses at LensHero
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

Pros

The Sony DSLR-A500 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Screen size Above average sized screen Help
3.0"
Image stabilization Image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Screen flips out Flip-out screen Help
Great for movies
Light sensitivity Good maximum light sensitivity Help
12,800 ISO
Storage slots More storage slots Help
2

Cons

The Sony DSLR-A500 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Color depth Less color depth Help
21.8 bits
Screen resolution Low resolution screen Help
230k dots
True resolution Lower true resolution Help
12.2 MP
Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity Help
None
Thickness Thick Help
3.3"
Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Overall image quality Low overall image quality Help
64.0
Movie format No movies Help
None
Announced Old Help
August, 2009
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Size Slightly large Help
Professional size 137x104x84 mm
Popularity Not so popular Help
Among snapsort users

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Appearance

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Discussion What do you think about the Sony Alpha DSLR-A500?

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Showing 1 comments

Avatar for Fulvia76 Fulvia76 (8:50 AM, December 01, 2011)
I had an Alpha DSLR-A500 for 14 months when it died. I sent it back to Sony who phoned me to say that they would repair it under warranty even though the warranty had expired - I was very pleased! However, Sony reneged on their advise saying that the failure had been caused by customer/misuse/impact damage. I asked Sony to send photographs of the exterior of the camera which would be comensurate with the claimed impact damage. I didn't receive any photos but received the camera back - un-repaired. I phoned Sony to ask why the camera had been returned and they told me that I had asked them to return it! They also stated that the camera was scratched and marked which was also untrue.
In future, if I am deciding on a camera I will go with Nikon, Canon etc. as this experience with Sony was unpleasant and frankly disturbing. Be warned!