Sony DSLRA500 Alpha 12.3 MP Digital Camera (Body Only)

With the arrival of the α500, Digital SLR cameras reach a new standard in image quality. New technologies like the advanced Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ processor work together to increase speed, reduce noise and ensure richly detailed images even in low-light conditions. Sustained high speed shooting at 4 fps can be achieved in Live View Mode, rising to 5 fps with the optical viewfinder.

The evolution of Quick Auto Focus Live View and the introduction of Manual Focus Check bring you all the help you need for beautifully framed, sharp shots, while the new Auto High Dynamic Range (HDR) function creates dramatically-lit scenes effortlessly. Thanks to its intuitive user interface a whole host of options and settings are instantly available as icons on the large 3” LCD screen at the press of the Function button. Its rechargeable InfoLITHIUM™ battery gives you enough power for 1000 shots so you’re all set to start shooting, and keep shooting, exploring your creativity like never before.

High–speed Exmor R™ processing technology reduces noise so you can enjoy better picture quality even in low-light conditions View larger

Rich, clear, high-resolution images even in low-light
The α500 benefits from a massive 12.3 megapixel resolution, which means you can make a high quality poster print at up to A3, or crop the image without losing any of its crisp detail. This is achieved thanks to the camera’s advanced Exmor CMOS sensor which provides superbly detailed images even in low-light conditions. Developed exclusively by Sony, this new processing technology works by reducing noise on the sensor itself, before analogue to digital conversion. The result is crisp, clean images even in low-light conditions where other cameras struggle. This combines with an impressively high sensitivity setting of ISO 12800 for a super-fast shutter speed, so you can shoot without the need of a flash.

Press the shutter and the Exmor R™ CMOS sensor, working with the BIONZ image processor, enables you to shoot at an incredible 10 frames per second at full 10.2 megapixel resolution. The kick of a ball, a bird in flight: every move caught in crisp detail. The camera also includes two low-light shooting modes, Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur, which automatically take six frames at high speed and superimpose them into one optimised shot with reduced blur and image noise.

Keep still images still with SteadyShot INSIDE™
Great shots can be ruined by camera shake when you’re shooting handheld – all the more frustrating if the scene you’ve photographed is unlikely to be repeated. The α500 comes with SteadyShot INSIDE™, which uses gyroscopic sensors to deliver 4 stop anti-shake correction without the need to add any special optics. It’s so effective, you’ll be able to shoot sharp images hand-held at shutter speeds up to 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible.

Faster off the mark with Quick AF Live View
Quick Auto Focus Live View presents you with a live image preview together with fast and accurate autofocus, both through the rear LCD screen. The evolution of Quick AF Live View means it now incorporates Face Detection to help ensure that people look their best in your portraits and Smile Shutter which automatically fires the shutter at just the right moment to capture happy, relaxed smiles.

Manual Focus Check Live View allows for greater precision in focusing, particularly in macro photography. Just press the MF CHECK LV button to instantly see a full-frame view of your subject on the LCD screen. When you’re happy with the composition, you can then zoom in for a closer look, to check your shot is fully in focus. You’ll even get grid lines on the screen to help with framing. If the light is low, signal output to the monitor is automatically boosted.

Scene Selection also helps you compose your shot quickly – this offers seven types of typical shooting situations, such as Portrait and Landscape, and sets the optimum exposure to get the best results at the touch of a button. If you prefer to use the optical viewfinder, the α500 has a bright and clear viewfinder with a wide field of vision.

Enjoy razor–sharp responses
Complementing the powerful Exmor CMOS sensor is the fast BIONZ processor, which takes a fraction of a second to handle the huge amount of digital information coming in from the sensor. This ensures that every last detail is reproduced with absolute clarity. Press the shutter and, working together, the two technologies enable you to shoot at 5 frames per second at full 12.3 megapixel resolution. The kick of a ball, a bird in flight: every move caught in crisp detail.

Capturing all the drama of a moment
In the past, dramatically-lit images were only possible if you had a tripod or were prepared to spend time adjusting the image using post-processing techniques. Now, with the α500’s new Auto HDR function, the camera will do it for you automatically without the need for a tripod. It works by taking two exposures in quick succession: one captures the shadows, the other captures the highlights. The two exposures are then combined, within two seconds, into a single breathtakingly beautiful photo, rich in colour and detail.

While Auto HDR is perfect for sunsets, cityscapes and incredible views, smart D-Range Optimiser is the technology to choose when you’ve got a portrait or active subject in your viewfinder. Using the BIONZ engine it compensates for extremes of light and shadow to produce natural results from high-contrast scenes.

Find new angles with the Free-angle tilt display
Finding new angles to shoot from above or below means countless new creative options. The large 3" Clear Photo LCD Plus screen can tilt to 90 degrees if viewed from below and a huge 135 degrees if viewed from above. So you can take dramatic shots without crouching, climbing or balancing uncomfortably. The α500 screen also benefits from a brightness sensor which automatically adjusts for different ambient lighting conditions. This combines with a high contrast, anti-reflective coating to give you a clear and accurate view of the shot you are setting up, even in bright outdoor conditions. The advanced Teleconverter makes things easier for you in another way – it is a one-touch function which instantly gives you up to 2x magnification for distant images without the need for additional lenses.

View your work in stunning HD detail on your HD TV
A major advantage of digital photography is that high quality images can be viewed on a large scale on equally high quality digital screens. If you connect your α500 directly to an HD Ready TV, the new HDMI output allows you to view your shots in spectacular HD on the big screen. If your TV is a BRAVIA™ which supports PhotoTV HD, you’ll be able to experience even more lifelike full HD images, bursting with detail and realistic colours, and use your BRAVIA™ remote control to navigate through them easily.

A full range of accessories
The α500 is compatible with top quality α-mount lenses including Carl Zeiss and Sony G Lens. Expand your creative options by choosing from wide-angle, macro, portrait or telephoto lenses. Get hold of the α500’s vertical grip, turn it on, and you’ll find photography’s more convenient, creative and fun than ever.

There’s also a full range of other accessories from flashes and batteries to stylish carry cases. The basic camera body comes complete with a high capacity InfoLITHIUM battery which allows you to take up to 1000 shots in-between charges, more than enough to capture everything you need during any type of trip or occasion. You have the option of recording on SD card or Memory Stick™ whenever you want.