Sony A500 Digital SLR Review

The Sony Alpha A500 offers a new 12.3 effective megapixel CMOS sensor and new enhanced BIONZ processor for detail-packed.The Sony A500 lets you capture even more incredible moments without the worry of running out of power.

Good:
- Friendly ergonomics
- Comfortable body size and weight
- Great performance in normal shooting modes
- Unequalled performance when using Fast Autofocus Live View
- Great Auto HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode
- Fast busrt frame rate for this class of camera
- Dual Card slots (SDHC, MS Pro Duo)
- Nice 3-inch tilting LCD
- Excellent battery life
- All lenses enjoy the benefits of a camera body based IS

Bad:
- No standard video out (mini-HDMI Port only)
- No included video cable
- No Depth of Field Preview or Mirror Lockup features
- Slightly slower burst frame rate when using AF-C (Continuous AF) in some conditions
- No video capture feature
- No way to turn off high ISO Noise Reduction (Normal or High options only)

The new Sony Alpha A500 provides excellent picture quality, particularly in low-light scenarios. A new generation of Sony(R) Exmor CMOS image sensors employ new low-noise processing for high-quality pictures. The BIONZ image processor has color-noise reduction that helps achieve low noise up to ISO 12800, without sacrificing fine detail.

In-Camera High Dynamic Range
The A500 is one of the Sony’s first DSLR cameras that offer an in-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature for capturing highlights and shadows, which processes the image within two seconds. Unlike HDR features in other DSLR cameras, Sony’s unique positional interpolation technology can overcome slight changes in camera position and align individual shots so that a tripod is not required.

The feature handles severe backlighting and other high-contrast scenes like looking out a window into bright daylight. The in-camera auto HDR technology combines the highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image.

Improved Live View
Because composing shots on the LCD monitor is becoming increasingly important to DSLR users, Sony has equipped this camera with two Live View functions and a 3-inch (measured diagonally) LCD screen that tilts 90 degrees up or down.

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Sony’s Quick AF Live View uses two sensors to maintain the same focusing speed as with the optical viewfinder. While the speed of Quick AF Live View is ideal for every day shooting, Manual Focus Check Live View enables critical framing and magnification for setting precise manual focus in macro and tripod shooting. Temporary 7x and 14x zoom views enable you to focus on extremely fine detail while the 1x view shows 100 percent framing in the LCD.

The Quick Auto Focus Live View has been developed with Face Detection technology to help you get the best shot by recognizing and adjusting for faces. It is the world’s first Face Detection system to work with fast, high-precision “phase detection” Auto Focus. By tracking up to eight faces, this system can prioritize auto focus points on a face, and optimize exposure and white balance for beautiful portraits.

The Sony DSLR-A500 is one the Sony’s first DSLR cameras that include Smile Shutter((TM)) technology in Live View, which takes the shot when your subject smiles. It works with Quick Auto Focus Live View to capture spontaneous moments.

Features

- New 12.3/14.2 effective megapixel CMOS sensor and new enhanced BIONZ processor for detail-packed, low-noise images with high sensitivity up to ISO 12800
- High-speed continuous shooting up to 5fps (with optical viewfinder) Enhanced Quick AF Live – View captures fast-moving action, with Face Detection for beautiful portraits
- 180º tilt-angle 3” Xtra Fine LCD (A550) and intuitive new interface for clear, simple shooting
- Manual Focus Check Live View mode for precise, convenient adjustment of focus and composition
- Auto HDR mode for high dynamic range exposures
- Class-leading shooting stamina
- HDMI™ output and BRAVIA™ Sync for control from TV remote

Image stabilization helps take blur-free shots by compensating for camera shake. Typical DSLR systems build image stabilization into selected lenses only. SteadyShot INSIDE(TM) image stabilization is built into the camera body itself. Blur will also be reduced with every A-mount lens, including macro and wide aperture standard zoom lenses, with an effect equivalent to shutter speeds faster by 2.5 to 4 stops

To make the benefits of macro photography easier and more accessible, Sony is making available at retail the DT 30mm F/2.8 (model SAL30M28) macro lens. It captures intricate close-ups, which is difficult to achieve with standard lenses and is only compatible with APS-C format DSLRs.

Memory Cards
For higher capacity storage with greater connectivity and faster transfer speeds, the new DSLRs are compatible with Sony’s newest 32GB Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo(TM) HX media. The HX series card is designed to deliver optimal read and write speeds for a growing number of products that require high-bandwidth memory in order to capture and store large data files.

Using the HX series media, Sony a (alpha) DSLR users can confidently enjoy advanced features such as continuous-shooting photography and realize higher transfer rates of large capacity files to their compatible PC (via supplied USB adapter).

The  DSLR-A500 includes dedicated slots for high-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo(TM), Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo(TM), HX series and SD/SDHC media (all sold separately).

Trusted Reviews writes about A500:
“The Sony Alpha A500 is a well-designed mid-range camera ideal for anyone upgrading from an entry-level model. It is rather bulky compared to its main rivals, but it is solidly made and handles well. It has a good range of features, excellent performance and reliably good image quality. If the lack of a video mode is no handicap then it’s certainly worth looking at.”

alphamountworld.com writes:
“One very important mention, is that the A500 is the reigning champ of battery life of any Alpha camera and probably over any DSLR in its class in the marketplace. For one charge, I shot nearly 1,000 images with 50% battery life remaining. You do the math. This trumped even the Alpha A550. It’s not a camera you’ll need to worry about in terms of battery life obviously, even when using live view on and off. Using the main sensor live view seems to draw a bit more power because of the bigger sensor, but that was mixed in the first 1K shots as well. Not too shabby.”

Steves digicams writes:
“The A500 is a camera with a wide variety of interesting features, including very fast Autofocus when using Live View (something you don’t find with competing dSLR models), and a unique Hand Held Auto HDR mode. Yet, the A500 still offers a number of features that appeal to first time dSLR owners, too (including a variety of scene modes, and easy to navigate screens for other camera settings). We only had a handful of minor complaints, and found that the A500 was fun to use with it’s nice ergonomics, easy to use control layout, and performance oriented features, making it a great choice in it’s market niche for virtually any type of still photography.”

Specifications: