Sony's entry APS-C DSLR — the A500, pentamirror OVF, tilting live-view LCD, in-body stabilisation, 2009.
The Sony A500 is an entry-level APS-C digital SLR announced in 2009 within Sony's Alpha A-mount line, which descended from the Minolta/Konica Minolta autofocus system. It was positioned just below the A550 as an accessible body for photographers stepping up from compact cameras, sold across Europe as part of Sony's mainstream DSLR range.
It is a conventional DSLR with an optical pentamirror viewfinder and a moving reflex mirror. It uses the Sony A (Alpha) bayonet mount and accepts A-mount lenses plus adapted Minolta AF optics. The body includes sensor-shift SteadyShot INSIDE stabilisation that works with any mounted lens, and it offers a tilting rear LCD with live view. It does not record video, consistent with its 2009 entry-level release, and takes Memory Stick and SD-type cards.
The A500 appeals to beginners and students who want in-body stabilisation and a tilting screen at a modest price, useful for general, travel and everyday shooting. Its optical finder and clear menu system make it approachable, while the tilting LCD adds flexibility for low and high-angle work that many rivals of its era lacked.
On the used market, verify the shutter count relative to its rated life, examine the sensor for dust and marks, and test the tilting screen for dead pixels and hinge play. Check the card and battery doors, listen for IBIS rattle, and inspect the grip rubber. NP-FM500H batteries remain available through aftermarket suppliers, and prices sit in the budget bracket typical of second bodies.