Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

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

Summary Sony DSLR-A500

Prices Price
Body only Unknown Kit Unknown
Score Snapsort rank
Among similar cameras #n/a of 15
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

Image stabilization Image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Startup delay Short startup delay Help
500 ms startup delay
Screen flips out Flip-out screen Help
Great for movies
Sensor size Slightly larger than average sensor Help
APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Battery life Incredible battery life Help
1000 shots
Storage slots More storage slots Help
2

Cons

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

Overall image quality Low overall image quality Help
64.0
Color depth Little color depth Help
21.8 bits
Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available Help
92 lenses
Announced Old Help
August, 2009
Size Quite large Help
Professional size 137x104x84 mm
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity Help
None
Thickness Thick Help
3.3"
Weight Heavy Help
630 g
Popularity Not so popular Help
Among snapsort users
Low light performance Noisy at high ISO Help
772 ISO
Movie format No movies Help
None
Dynamic range Narrower dynamic range Help
11.6 EV
Screen resolution Very low resolution screen Help
230k dots
Viewfinder size Small viewfinder Help
0.52x
True resolution Lower true resolution Help
12.2 MP
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus contrast detection autofocus Help
slower focusing
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second

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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!