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Nikon D300S vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD300SSonyAlpha DSLR-A500
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2009September 2009
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSExmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP12.3 MP
Largest image4288 × 28484272 × 2848
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200200–12800
Sensor detail13.1 million total pixels; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reductionApproximately 12.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEGJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO–
Image processorEXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition SystemBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst7 fps5 fps
Lens detailBody AF motor supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered. IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedSony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningTTL 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.
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 at reduced flash range; Quiet release mode; shutter tested to 150000 cyclesElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailApproximately 7 fps with EN-EL3e in the body; up to 8 fps with MB-D10 and EN-EL4a. Nikon Japan specifies approximately 7.7 fps with eight AA cells in MB-D10 and 7.6 fps with AC power. 14-bit RAW is limited to approximately 2.5 fpsUp 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 detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationSteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops, depending on lens and conditions.
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminalAutomatic pop-up flash; guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha flash shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timerProgram, 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.
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps–
Video detail1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216 at 24 fps; Motion-JPEG AVI. Maximum clip length five minutes at 720p or twenty minutes at lower resolutions. Contrast-detection autofocus can be initiated during recording in Tripod modeNo movie recording; HDMI supports still-image playback.
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivity–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots921,000230,400
Touchscreen–No
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixelsClear 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 detailPentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepointPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)950 photographs1000 photographs
Body weight840 g597 g
Release detailNikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the monthSony 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 mediaDual slots for CompactFlash Type I with UDMA and SD/SDHC; backup, overflow, separate RAW/JPEG and card-to-card copying. CompactFlash Type II and Microdrive unsupportedSD, SDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; card selection uses a manual switch.
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash syncUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal and Alpha accessory shoe
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-Fi–
Battery life detailEN-EL3e; approximately 950 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000 shots. MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cellsNP-FM500H; approximately 1,000 shots using optical viewfinder or 520 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
ChargingMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapter–
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 114 × 74 mmApproximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
Weight detailApproximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 597 g body only, excluding battery, memory card and accessories.
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key points–

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