Sony a500 vs Nikon D200

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a500 and Nikon D200. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a500 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D200 is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

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 Nikon D200 has a "Nikon DX"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** 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 (Nikon)

Resolution

Sony a500 has a 12 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D200 has 10 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony a500 has a 21 % larger resolution than Nikon D200. 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

Sony a500 has a larger ISO-range than Nikon D200. Sony a500 has an ISO range that stretches from 200 to 12800 while Nikon D200 has 100 to 1600.

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 Nikon D200

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 Nikon D200 can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

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

Though, neither Sony a500 or Nikon D200 can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

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.

Nikon D200 weighs 920 gr (equal to 2.03 lb) which is 46% heavier than Sony a500 and its 630 gr (or 1.39 lb).

Sony a500 vs Nikon D200 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a500 and Nikon D200, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Name	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Release Year	2009	2005
Release Date	2009-08-27	2005-11-01
MSRP	549 USD	1599 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX"
Sensor Type	CMOS	CCD
Resolution	4272 x 2848 pixels	3872 x 2592 pixels
Megapixels	12 MP	10 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	Nikon LSI (Large Scale Integration)
Image	Sony a500	Nikon D200
ISO Range	200 - 12800	100 - 1600
White Balance Presets	6	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift)	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	9	11
Lens Mount	Sony A See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	DX / APS-C (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	230000	230000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	N/A	N/A
Live view	Yes	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentamirror)	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.)	0.94× (0.63× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Frames per second	5 fps	5 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	12 meters	12 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Memory Card	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony a500	Nikon D200
HDMI Output	Yes	No
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or wirelss (Optional))	Yes (Optional)
GPS	No	Yes Optional
Body & Dimensions	Sony a500	Nikon D200
Enviromentally sealed	No	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger	Nikon EN-EL3e Lithium-Ion battery
Battery Life (CIPA)	520 shots	400 shots
Width	137 mm	147 mm
Height	104 mm	113 mm
Depth	84 mm	74 mm
Weight	630 gram	920 gram