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Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Released January 2016
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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony A3000
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Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Overview

Here is a extended analysis of the Canon SX420 IS versus Sony a3500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX420 IS (20MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is pretty comparable but the SX420 IS (1/2.3") and a3500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX420 IS was announced 22 months later than the a3500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX420 IS scores versus the a3500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Sony a3500

 SX420 IS a3500 
LaunchedJanuary 2016March 2014Fresher by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Canon SX420 IS

 a3500 SX420 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Sony a3500

 SX420 IS a3500 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX420 IS provides external measurements of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony a3500 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX420 IS versus Sony a3500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SX420 IS compared to the a3500.

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX420 IS and a3500 is 80 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX420 IS and a3500.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The SX420 IS provides the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh more difficult. The more recent SX420 IS will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography advice
Sony a3500 Portrait photography advice
44
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
features face detection focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Street photography camera
52
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Sports photography details
Sony a3500 Sports photography details
41
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
max frames per second very slow (0.5 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
60
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (470 shots)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography factors
Sony a3500 Travel photography factors
61
good resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (195 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
great battery pack (470 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (411 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX420 IS
Landscape photography with Sony a3500
47
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony a3500 Vlogging highlights
29
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
26
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (411 grams)
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Canon SX420 IS vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Sony a3500
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISSony Alpha a3500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Sony Alpha a3500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-01-05 2014-03-21
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4+ BIONZ image
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 1600 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.6 -
Macro focusing range 0cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 0.5fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 195 shots 470 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-11LH NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $299 $398