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Canon M vs Sony a3500

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Canon M vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Revealed July 2012
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Replaced the Sony A3000
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Canon M vs Sony a3500 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Canon M versus Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the M (18MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The M was announced 20 months before the a3500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the M grades versus the a3500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony a3500

 M a3500 
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Canon M

 a3500 M 
ReleasedMarch 2014July 2012Fresher by 20 months

Common features in the Canon M and Sony a3500

 M a3500 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Canon M vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon M has physical measurements of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) while the Sony a3500 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon M versus Sony a3500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the M compared to the a3500.

Canon M vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M and a3500 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Canon M vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The visual here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the M and a3500.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony a3500 to show extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older M will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon M vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography advice
Sony a3500 Portrait photography advice
75
has manual focus
good MP (18MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
77
has manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon M Street photography details
Sony a3500 Street photography details
72
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
57
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon M as a Sports photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Sports photography camera
54
good MP (18MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (230 shots)
60
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (470 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography details
Sony a3500 Travel photography details
63
boasts focus by touch
good MP (18MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery power (230 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
great battery (470 shots)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M Landscape photography highlights
Sony a3500 Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (18MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (470 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M as a Vlogging camera
Sony a3500 as a Vlogging camera
37
touchscreen capability
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
26
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing mic port
heavier than others in class (411g)
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Canon M vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Sony a3500
 Canon EOS MSony Alpha a3500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS M Sony Alpha a3500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-07-23 2014-03-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 31 25
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Sony E
Total lenses 23 121
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 298 gr (0.66 lbs) 411 gr (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 65 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 827 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images 470 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E12 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $510 $398