Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A500

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Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A500

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APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5000.

APS-C 369.7mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A500 Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5100
Compare D5000 vs D5100
Compare Nikon D5100 vs Sony DSLR-A500

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Differences

Nikon D5000 advantages over Sony DSLR-A500

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5000 test data on DxO Mark DSLR-A500 test data on DxO Mark

868 vs 772 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 5 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony DSLR-A500 advantages over Nikon D5000

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1000 vs 510 shots
Capture more photos
Less shutter lag
0.18 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Neither provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Sony DSLR-A500

Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D5000 Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony DSLR-A500.
Read our Sony DSLR-A500 Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A350

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A350

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$900
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A350

$850
APS-C

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$900
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
More pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Compared to Sony DSLR-A300

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A300

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$563
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A300

$850
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$563
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A550

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$859
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A550

$850
APS-C

Less expensive

$859
APS-C

More dots on screen
More pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A390

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A390

$850
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
More pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Sony DSLR-A560

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A560

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$750
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A560

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A560

$850
APS-C

Fast startup
Less shutter lag

$750
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
More cross-type AF points

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A560

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