Sony a500 vs Canon EOS 500D

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a500 and Canon EOS 500D. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Sony a500

Canon EOS 500D

Manufacturing

Sony a500 is manufacturered by Sony but Canon EOS 500D is from Canon. Both Sony and Canon are well known brands though.

These two camera models were both released 2009.

Camera	Released
Sony a500	2009
Canon EOS 500D	2009

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a500 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Canon EOS 500D has a "Canon APS-C"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

Camera	Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 **
Sony a500	75 mm Sony APS-C sensor Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.5
Canon EOS 500D	80 mm Canon APS-C sensor Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.6

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Sony a500 has a 12 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS 500D has 15,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Camera	Megapixels
Sony a500	12 MP 12166656 pixels 4272 x 2848
Canon EOS 500D	15,1 MP 15054336 pixels 4752 x 3168

Canon EOS 500D has a 24 % larger resolution than Sony a500. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Canon EOS 500D has a larger ISO-range than Sony a500. Canon EOS 500D has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 12800 while Sony a500 has 200 to 12800.

Camera	ISO Range
Sony a500	200-12800
Canon EOS 500D	100-12800

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a500
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 500D

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a500 can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS 500D can shoot up to 3,4 pictures per seconds.

Camera	FPS (Frames per second)
Sony a500	5
Canon EOS 500D	3,4

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

It is only one of these two cameras that support recording movies and movie clips and that is Canon EOS 500D. Sadly, the Sony a500 does not support this.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Sony a500 weighs 630 gr (equal to 1.39 lb) which is 21% heavier than Canon EOS 500D and its 520 gr (or 1.15 lb).

Camera	Weight
Sony a500	630 gr 1.39 lb
Canon EOS 500D	520 gr 1.15 lb