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Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Ricoh CX2 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
35
Overall
33

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Ricoh CX2
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Canon A3500 IS versus Ricoh CX2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Ricoh. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and CX2 (9MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was revealed 3 years later than the CX2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the A3500 IS grades against the CX2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Ricoh CX2

 A3500 IS CX2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013August 2009More recent by 42 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX2 over the Canon A3500 IS

 CX2 A3500 IS 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Ricoh CX2

 A3500 IS CX2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon A3500 IS features 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 Ricoh CX2 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A3500 IS versus Ricoh CX2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the A3500 IS and the CX2.

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A3500 IS and CX2 is 96 and 93 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A3500 IS and CX2.

Clearly, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Canon A3500 IS to give more detail because of its extra 7MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher A3500 IS is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Ricoh CX2 Portrait photography highlights
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
25
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
MP count low (9MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A3500 IS
Street photography with Ricoh CX2
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (135 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (185g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Sports photography camera
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
26
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (9MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Travel photography factors
Ricoh CX2 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competitors in class (135g)
boasts focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
66
lighter than competitors in class (185 grams)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very long reach (300mm)
MP count low (9MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Landscape photography factors
Ricoh CX2 Landscape photography factors
41
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (9 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging factors
Ricoh CX2 Vlogging factors
34
really wide (28mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (135 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
30
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (185 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Canon A3500 IS vs Ricoh CX2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Ricoh CX2
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISRicoh CX2
General Information
Company Canon Ricoh
Model type Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Ricoh CX2
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-07 2009-08-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.00 m (ISO 400)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 gr (0.30 lbs) 185 gr (0.41 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L DB-70
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $115 $341