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Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 · Sony; official A500 catalogue, supplied kit configuration
Sony · Alpha
Alpha DSLR-A500
The Alpha A500 is a 12.3 MP A-mount DSLR with sensor-shift stabilisation, fast live-view autofocus and separate magnified manual-focus live view.
- Type
- DSLR
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Megapixels
- 12.3
- Lens
- Sony A-mount
- Video
- –
- Body weight
- 597 g
What reviewers say
Both reviews praised live-view autofocus, stabilisation, handling and useful high-ISO results, while noting missing video. They differed on default JPEG sharpness: Photography Blog found images soft, whereas ePHOTOzine found detail crisp. Photography Blog criticised the small optical finder; ePHOTOzine highlighted limited bracketing, flash-sync speed and the proprietary flash shoe.
From photographyblog.com and ephotozine.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- DSLR
- Sensor format
- APS-C
- Sensor type
- Exmor CMOS
- Sensor dimensions
- 23.5 × 15.6 mm
- Effective resolution
- 12.3 MP
- Largest image
- 4272 × 2848
- RAW recording
- Yes
- Standard ISO range
- 200–12800
- Sensor detail
- Approximately 12.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
- Image formats
- JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1
- Image processor
- BIONZ
Lens and shooting
- Lens mount
- Sony A-mount
- Stabilisation
- Sensor shift
- Maximum continuous burst
- 5 fps
- Lens detail
- Sony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
- Autofocus
- TTL phase detection with nine points; single, automatic and continuous AF, manual focus, predictive control and Eye-start AF. Face detection and Smile Shutter are available in Quick AF Live View.
- Shutter
- Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
- Burst detail
- Up to 5 fps with optical viewfinder, or 4 fps in live view; approximately 12 Fine JPEG, six RAW or three RAW+JPEG frames, depending on conditions and media.
- Stabilisation detail
- SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops, depending on lens and conditions.
- Flash
- Automatic pop-up flash; guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha flash shoe
- Exposure controls
- Program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb metering with optical finder, 1,200-zone metering in Quick AF Live View. Auto HDR combines two exposures for JPEG still subjects.
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- Optical
- Screen size
- 3″
- Screen dots
- 230,400
- Touchscreen
- No
- Tilting screen
- Yes
- Display detail
- Clear Photo LCD Plus tilts 90° up and down. Quick AF Live View uses a dedicated sensor with 90% coverage; Manual Focus Check Live View uses the main sensor with 100% coverage and 7×/14× magnification.
- Viewfinder detail
- Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 1000 photographs
- Body weight
- 597 g
- Release detail
- Sony Hong Kong specifies September 2009 availability for the single- and double-lens kits, following the August announcement. The maker source gives no first-sale day.
- Recording media
- SD, SDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; card selection uses a manual switch.
- Ports
- USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal and Alpha accessory shoe
- Battery life detail
- NP-FM500H; approximately 1,000 shots using optical viewfinder or 520 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
- Dimensions
- Approximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
- Weight detail
- Approximately 597 g body only, excluding battery, memory card and accessories.
Video
- Video detail
- No movie recording; HDMI supports still-image playback.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sensor-shift stabilisation with compatible A-mount lenses
- Fast phase-detection autofocus in live view
- Tilting screen and magnified manual-focus preview
Cons
- No movie recording
- Quick AF Live View covers only 90% of the frame
- No automatic switch between memory cards
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSLR | APS-C | 12.3 | Nikon F mount | 1280 × 720 at 24 fps | 840 g | Aug 2009 | |
| DSLR | APS-C | 12.3 | Nikon F mount | 1280 × 720 at 24 fps | 560 g | May 2009 | |
| DSLR | APS-C | 14.2 | Nikon F mount | 1920 × 1080 at 24 fps | 455 g | Sept 2010 |
Sources
- sony.jp/products/catalog/OVERSEAS_A500.pdf
- sony.co.uk/electronics/support/a-mount-body-dslra500-series/dslr-a500/specifica…
- sony.com.hk/press/pdf/20090828_01e.pdf
- photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_a500_review
Photo: Sony; official A500 catalogue, supplied kit configuration
- Sony A500 supplied twin-lens kit with DT 18–55 mm mounted and DT 55–200 mm beside it: Sony; official A500 catalogue, supplied kit configuration
- Sony A500 top controls with kit lens mounted: Sony; official A500 catalogue, supplied kit configuration
- Sony A500 rear view with tilted display: Sony; official A500 catalogue, supplied kit configuration
- Sony A500 with kit lens and tilted display resting on a tree outdoors: Sony; official A500 catalogue cover photograph