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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-S500SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500
Overview
Released20062015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor formatOther1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDExmor R CMOS
Effective resolution6 MP18.2 MP
Largest image2816 × 21124896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–40080–3200
Sensor detailOptical 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 used1/2.3-type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS; approximately 18.2 million effective and 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG/Exif 2.21, Fine or Standard quality; maximum 2816×2112, with 3:2 2816×1872, 3M, 2M and VGA settings. No RAW recordingJPEG with Fine or Standard compression; maximum 4896 × 3672 in 4:3, 4896 × 3264 in 3:2, 4896 × 2752 in 16:9 or 3664 × 3664 in 1:1. Sweep Panorama standard, wide or 360-degree up to 11520 × 1080
ISO detail–Single-exposure settings ISO 80–3200, Auto ISO 80–3200. Multi Frame NR extends to ISO 6400/12800 through processed overlaid burst exposures
Image processor–BIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens32–96 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/2.8–4.8f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom3×30×
StabilisationNoneOptical lens stabilisation
Lens detailSony 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 tableZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* thirty-times optical zoom, eleven elements in ten groups including five aspherical elements; five-blade iris, actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent 24–720 mm in 4:3, 25–750 mm in 3:2, 26.5–795 mm in 16:9 or 27.5–825 mm in 1:1. Movie 16:9 Standard 26.5–795 mm, Active 28–1180 mm, Intelligent Active 31–1210 mm; 4:3 Standard 32.5–975 mm, Active 34.5–1450 mm, Intelligent Active 38–1480 mm
AutofocusSingle 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 conflictsContrast-detection AF-S; AF-C only in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point Wide, centre, Flexible Spot S/M/L and Expand Flexible Spot, with Lock-on AF; approximately 5 cm minimum focus wide or 250 cm telephoto
ShutterMaker archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Singapore table additionally gives Program auto 1–1/2000 secondIntelligent Auto 4–1/2000 second; Program Auto 1–1/2000 second; aperture priority 8–1/2000 second; shutter priority and manual 30–1/2000 second
Burst detailExact 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 rateMaximum approximately 10 fps at full resolution for ten frames; this is a brief buffered burst rather than sustained continuous shooting. Some modes prevent burst shooting, and flash reduces its speed
Stabilisation detail–Optical SteadyShot for photographs. Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic compensation, including rotation correction; Sony’s five-axis launch claim applies to movies and includes electronic correction
FlashExact instruction manual Auto ISO range approximately 0.5–2.5 m wide / 0.5–2.0 m telephoto; red-eye reduction pre-flash availableBuilt-in manually raised pop-up flash, Auto, forced, slow-sync, rear-sync or off; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3 m telephoto
Exposure controlsAuto, 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 400Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program Auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, Memory Recall 1/2/3, scenes, panorama and automatic/scene movie modes. ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps; wide-angle F3.5–F8 in aperture priority or manual. Thirteen still-image Picture Effects
Video
Highest video resolution320 × 240 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailAVI 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 handbookMaximum 1920 × 1080 progressive at 60p NTSC or 50p PAL. XAVC S up to 50 Mbps; AVCHD up to 28 Mbps and MP4 up to 28 Mbps. Japan also lists 1080p30/p24 XAVC S, interlaced AVCHD and 720p30 MP4; regional frame rates differ and PAL/NTSC can be switched. XAVC S requires a Class 10 or faster SDXC card. Approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 28M reaches its 4 GB limit in approximately 20 minutes. Optical zoom works during recording; 4K output is still photographs only
Audio–Built-in stereo microphone and mono speaker; XAVC S LPCM two-channel, AVCHD Dolby Digital two-channel or MP4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size2.4″3″
Screen dots110,000921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 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 tilting3.0-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD with 921600 dots, manual five-step brightness; tilts upward approximately 180 degrees for self-portraits. No touchscreen or viewfinder
Viewfinder detailNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD–
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)60 photographs400 photographs
Body weight146 g209 g
Release detailImaging 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.Released in 2015. Sony’s 7 May Hong Kong announcement scheduled mid-June launch after a pre-order period; the prospective date does not establish the actual first on-sale day or month
Recording mediaApproximately 25 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo, including MagicGate variants. No card suppliedSD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support, microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC with adapters, Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro with an adapter
PortsSeparate 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 headingMulti/micro-USB terminal with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; micro-HDMI output
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC Forum Type 3 Tag for one-touch pairing; smartphone transfer/remote control, TV viewing and computer transfer with compatible software. PlayMemories Camera Apps support and Eye-Fi; no GPS
Battery life detailTwo 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 batteriesSupplied NP-BX1; approximately 400 photographs or 200 minutes under CIPA conditions, approximately 75 minutes actual movie use or 110 minutes continuous movie use, distinct from per-clip limits
ChargingSupplied alkaline batteries cannot be recharged. Optional compatible NiMH cells require an external charger; no charger supplied. Optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separateIn-camera USB charging and external USB power with supplied AC adapter and battery fitted
Dimensions92.4×62.3×31.2 mm width×height×depth in UK archive; exact instruction manual rounds to 92×62×31 mm excluding protrusions101.6 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm (width × height × depth), CIPA compliant
Weight detail146 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 tableApproximately 209 g body-only; approximately 236 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black, white or red; regional choices differ
In the boxTwo AA alkaline batteries, dedicated USB cable, A/V cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; rechargeable cells, charger and Memory Stick Duo excludedNP-BX1, AC-UB10C/UB10D, micro-USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional contents differ

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