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Sony Alpha 9 III vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 9 IIISonyAlpha DSLR-A500
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2024September 2009
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typeStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutterExmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution24.6 MP12.3 MP
Largest image6000 × 40004272 × 2848
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range250–25600200–12800
Sensor detailApproximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.Approximately 12.9 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formatsJPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1
ISO detailStandard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.–
Image processorBIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.BIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony A-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst120 fps5 fps
Lens detail–Sony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
AutofocusUp to 759 still-image or 627 movie phase-detection points; sensitivity EV −5 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100 equivalent. Current UK specification includes automatic subject selection and people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft; launch reviews precede later firmware enhancements.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 detailUp to 120 fps full-resolution electronic bursts with AF/AE tracking under Sony test conditions; speed depends on lens compatibility and shooting settings. Pre-Capture retains up to one second before full shutter press. No mechanical shutter.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 detailFive-axis sensor shift; 8.0-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active and Dynamic Active movie modes supported.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.
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 120 fps–
Video detailUp to uncropped 3840 × 2160 120p NTSC or 100p PAL; 4K 60p uses 6K oversampling. Supports 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; All-Intra 4K tops out at 60p. External HDMI RAW output is separate from internal recording.No movie recording; HDMI supports still-image playback.
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicOptical
Screen size3.2″3″
Screen dots2,095,104230,400
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailFour-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.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 detail0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable up to 240 fps NTSC or 200 fps PAL.Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)530 photographs1000 photographs
Body weight617 g597 g
Release detailSony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.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 mediaBoth slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.SD, SDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; card selection uses a manual switch.
PortsUSB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal and Alpha accessory shoe
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.–
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; Sony UK CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 400 with viewfinder. Japan lists 520/410 respectively. USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.NP-FM500H; approximately 1,000 shots using optical viewfinder or 520 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
DimensionsApproximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.Approximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
Weight detailSony UK specifies approximately 617 g body only or 702 g with battery and memory card; Japan specifies 618/703 g respectively. Main figures use the UK specification.Approximately 597 g body only, excluding battery, memory card and accessories.
In the boxNP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.–

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