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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX99SonyCyber-shot DSC-S500
Overview
ReleasedOctober 20182006
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-typeOther
Sensor typeBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOSSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution18.2 MP6 MP
Largest image4896 × 36722816 × 2112
RAW recordingYesNo
Standard ISO range80–320080–400
Sensor detail1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical sensor dimensionsOptical 1/2.5-type Super HAD CCD; optical format is not a physical dimension. Exact instruction manual gives approximately 6,003,000 effective / 6,183,000 total pixels; Singapore archive different effective count is not used
Image formatsSony ARW 2.3 RAW, RAW+JPEG or JPEG Extra Fine/Fine/Standard; sRGB or Adobe RGB; 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 and square photographs plus Sweep PanoramaJPEG/Exif 2.21, Fine or Standard quality; maximum 2816×2112, with 3:2 2816×1872, 3M, 2M and VGA settings. No RAW recording
ISO detailOrdinary ISO 80–3200; extended single-frame ISO 6400. Multi-shot Noise Reduction offers ISO 6400 and 12800 using combined exposures–
Image processorBIONZ X with front-end LSI–
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens24–720 mm equivalent32–96 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.5–6.4f/2.8–4.8
Optical zoom28×3×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationNone
Maximum continuous burst10 fps–
Lens detailZEISS Vario-Sonnar T*, actual 4.25–118 mm, 11 elements in 10 groups with five aspherical elements; five-blade iris. Maker specifies 28× optical zoom, while 24–720 mm equivalent values are those displayed by the camera and recorded in ExifSony 3× zoom, physical 5.4–16.2 mm F2.8–4.8. Macro approximately 5 cm wide / 35 cm telephoto; normal focus approximately 50 cm in maker archive. Singapore Carl Zeiss branding conflicts with actual Sony lens nameplate and UK table
Autofocus25-point contrast autofocus, AF-S, Direct Manual Focus and manual focus; AF-C available for movies only. Eye AF, Lock-on AF and flexible spot areas; minimum focus approximately 5 cm wide or 250 cm telephotoSingle autofocus; no manually adjustable focus or distance presets. UK archive lists no AF illuminator and exact manual labels the front lamp only as self-timer lamp; Singapore affirmative entry conflicts
ShutterMechanical shutter: Manual and shutter-priority 30–1/2000 second, aperture-priority 8–1/2000, Program 1–1/2000 and Intelligent Auto 1/4–1/2000Maker archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Singapore table additionally gives Program auto 1–1/2000 second
Burst detailFull-resolution Speed Priority Continuous up to 10 fps, or ordinary Continuous approximately 3 fps. Up to 155 frames in Speed Priority with JPEG Fine; rate falls as buffer fills. Focus, exposure and white balance lock to first frame in either modeExact handbook: maximum three frames at all supported sizes/qualities, flash off, approximately 2-second recording interval. Singapore maker table separately qualifies approximately 2 seconds at 6M Fine / 1 second at VGA Standard; UK unqualified 1-second entry not used as a sustained full-resolution rate
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShot for stills; Intelligent Active movies combine optical and electronic correction–
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3.0 m telephoto; no accessory shoeExact instruction manual Auto ISO range approximately 0.5–2.5 m wide / 0.5–2.0 m telephoto; red-eye reduction pre-flash available
Exposure controlsP/A/S/M and two Memory Recall modes; ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern, centre-weighted, spot, entire-screen average and highlight meteringAuto, Program auto and six scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Candle. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern or spot metering. ISO Auto, 80, 100, 200 and 400
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps320 × 240 at 30 fps
Video detailXAVC S 3840 × 2160 at 30p or 24p, 60/100 Mbps; PAL uses 25p. Full-pixel readout without pixel binning. Full HD up to 120p (100p PAL); 4K and 120p/100p HD sessions limited to approximately five minutes, with possible earlier thermal shutdown. Other modes approximately 29 minutes subject to temperature. UHS-I U3 microSDHC/XC required for 100 MbpsAVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at 30 fps with recorded sound. No movie-sound playback through the camera buzzer; sound plays on TV or computer. UK archive 640×480 template entry conflicts with exact handbook
AudioStereo recording: XAVC S Linear PCM or AVCHD Dolby Digital–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicNone
Screen size3″2.4″
Screen dots921,600110,000
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesNo
Display detail3.0-type 4:3 TFT LCD, 921600 dots; tilts up 180 degrees. Touch focus, touch shutter and touchpad focus while using viewfinder; menus are not touch controlledFixed 2.4-inch TFT, maker states 110,000 dots in exact instruction manual and UK archive; dots are not captured image pixels. No touchscreen or tilting
Viewfinder detailRetractable 0.2-type OLED, 638400 dots; 100% coverage (97% during 4K recording), 0.50× equivalent magnification, −4 to +3 dioptresNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYesNo
Battery life (maker's claim)370 photographs60 photographs
Body weight216 g146 g
Release detailSony Switzerland states availability from late October 2018; Sony Hong Kong specifies 26 October locally. October precision retained because the international first-sale day is not establishedImaging Resource exact-model specification database records Date Available August 4 2006. Year 2006 retained conservatively because the precise first-sale day is not independently corroborated. Contemporary Sony US reporting planned August shipment; Sony China announced its regional model November 22 2006. No predecessor inferred from the maker calling it a new S-series member after S600.
Recording mediamicroSD, microSDHC, microSDXC and Memory Stick Micro/Mark2; no full-size SD slotApproximately 25 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo, including MagicGate variants. No card supplied
PortsMicro HDMI and Multi/Micro USB with USB 2.0Separate USB mini-B (Full-Speed USB 2.0) and A/V OUT mini-jack; NTSC/PAL composite video and audio. Exact manual Full-Speed specification overrides Singapore Hi-Speed heading
Wireless connections2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC Type 3 and Bluetooth for location information from a compatible smartphone; no built-in GPS or compass–
Battery life detailNP-BX1; CIPA claim approximately 370 photographs with LCD or 300 with viewfinder. LCD claim rises to 460 with monitor auto-off set to two secondsTwo supplied LR6 alkaline AA cells: approximately 60 shots / 30 minutes CIPA. Optional NH-AA-DB NiMH pair: approximately 350 shots / 170 minutes, not supplied. Alkaline values vary by brand, settings and conditions; supplied cells described as trial-use batteries
ChargingIn-camera USB charging and USB external power using supplied AC adapter with battery insertedSupplied alkaline batteries cannot be recharged. Optional compatible NiMH cells require an external charger; no charger supplied. Optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separate
Dimensions102 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA92.4×62.3×31.2 mm width×height×depth in UK archive; exact instruction manual rounds to 92×62×31 mm excluding protrusions
Weight detailApproximately 216 g body only, or 242 g including NP-BX1 and memory card146 g body only in UK archive; approximately 198 g including two batteries and wrist strap, etc. in exact instruction manual. Plastic body in Singapore maker table
ColoursBlack–
In the boxNP-BX1, AC-UB10C adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and instructions in Japan; regional mains fittings varyTwo AA alkaline batteries, dedicated USB cable, A/V cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; rechargeable cells, charger and Memory Stick Duo excluded

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