Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax MX-1

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the A3500 IS (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The A3500 IS was revealed 5 months before the MX-1 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A3500 IS grades versus the MX-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot A3500 IS & Pentax MX-1. The full galleries are provided at Canon A3500 IS Gallery & Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon A3500 IS offers physical measurements of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the A3500 IS vs the MX-1.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A3500 IS and MX-1 is 96 and 84 respectively.

Often, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing a spec sheet. The image here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A3500 IS and MX-1.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A3500 IS using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Canon A3500 IS will show greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively.