Casio EX-G1 vs Sony a3500: A Detailed Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Over my 15+ years of camera testing, I've handled a broad spectrum of devices - from rugged compacts designed for poolside snapshots to entry-level mirrorless systems striving for professional-grade output on a budget. Today, we're diving headfirst into one such intriguing pair: the Casio Exilim EX-G1 ultracompact and the Sony Alpha a3500 entry-level mirrorless. While these cameras were announced nearly five years apart and cater to different segments, comparing them gives us revealing insights about evolving priorities in digital photography, sensor technology, and user flexibility.

Both cameras carry compelling attributes yet stem from fundamentally different design philosophies - the EX-G1 assumes a minimalist, rugged point-and-shoot role, while the a3500 offers a more ambitious mirrorless experience with interchangeable lenses and manual controls. In this article, I’ll unpack how each performs across photography genres, dive deep into technology, and finally help you decide which makes more sense for your shooting style and budget.

Let’s get started with a quick look at their physical characteristics, since handling is often the first impression that lasts.

Size and Ergonomics: Portability Versus Control

One glance at the dimensions and weight reveals a stark contrast. The Casio EX-G1 is an ultracompact, delightfully pocketable device measuring just 104 x 64 x 20 mm and weighing a mere 154 grams. In contrast, the Sony a3500 is a mirrorless camera with a traditional SLR-inspired body, considerably chunkier at 128 x 91 x 85 mm and 411 grams.

Holding the EX-G1 is like slipping a slim card into your pocket. Its textured plastic chassis feels solid for its segment and is designed for quick opportunistic shooting, especially where minimal gear is desirable - think a hike, festive street photography, or water-side adventures. The button layout is minimalistic, favoring simplicity over customization, with no dedicated dials.

The Sony a3500, on the other hand, carries the heft and shape of an actual camera - not a toy. This affords better grip and more physical controls, including multiple buttons and dials for quick manual adjustments essential for deliberate shooting. Though heavier, the a3500 still manages a respectable carry weight for an APS-C mirrorless, especially considering its integrated electronic viewfinder and larger sensor.

The a3500’s size, while slightly unwieldy compared to modern compacts, offers the ergonomics needed for sustained handheld use, especially with longer lens setups. The EX-G1, meanwhile, prioritizes unobtrusiveness; holding it feels like wielding a slim point-and-shoot, but don’t expect long shooting sessions to be as comfortable.

Design and Top Controls: Minimalism Versus Manual Flexibility

The design philosophy extends into their top views and control schemes.

The Casio reveals its no-nonsense roots: a simple shutter button and zoom lever dominate the top, framed by a power button and a modest flash popup control. There are no exposure compensation dials, no mode wheels, and zero direct access to aperture or shutter speed - confined to what Casio engineers preset for you.

The Sony a3500, true to an entry-level mirrorless SLR style, presents a more familiar scene: mode dial (with aperture priority, shutter priority, program, manual modes), dedicated exposure compensation button, on/off switch, and hot shoe-compatible built-in flash. Such a layout appeals to users craving granular control over exposure, focus, and creative settings without jumping through menu hoops.

For anyone accustomed to interchangeable lens cameras, the a3500’s physical controls foster a natural workflow that helps steady hands dial in the desired settings on the fly. The EX-G1 feels more like a companion that values simplicity and spontaneous snaps over technical precision.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Impact of Sensor Size and Resolution

Let’s move now to the beating heart of each camera: the sensor.

Though the EX-G1 boasts a 12-megapixel CCD sensor in a tiny 1/2.3 inch form factor (6.17 x 4.55 mm), the Sony a3500 sports a 20-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor sized at 23.5 x 15.6 mm - more than 13 times the surface area of Casio’s sensor.

This gulf in sensor size profoundly influences image quality, low-light performance, dynamic range, and color depth. In controlled tests, the EX-G1’s images show expected limitations: noise swells quickly beyond ISO 400, and shadow details are often clipped. The firmware’s Automatic settings help counter some exposure challenges but can’t overcome inherent sensor constraints.

The Sony a3500’s APS-C sensor, married to Sony’s BIONZ image processor, provides robust image detail, color accuracy, and dynamic range - even at elevated ISOs. The maximum native ISO of 16,000 (usable leagues below this) vastly outperforms Casio’s capped ISO 3200. In my field tests, the a3500 delivers clean, sharp images at ISO 800 and usable results at ISO 1600 and above - a solid advantage in dim lighting.

Resolution-wise, both produce sharp images, but the a3500’s 20 MP sensor captures more fine detail, beneficial if you crop or print large format. The EX-G1’s 12 MP still suffices for web use and modest prints but falls short for professionals requiring pixel-level detail.

Rear Screen and User Interface: Fixed Screens, Different Purposes

Both cameras use fixed LCD screens without touch capabilities, but their size and interface responsiveness differ.

The EX-G1’s 2.5-inch, 230k-dot display is functional but falls short in brightness, viewing angles, and color fidelity. It serves well enough for framing in daylight or indoor shooting but is challenging to see clearly under bright sunlight, requiring more reliance on compositional intuition.

The Sony a3500 offers a 3-inch, 230k-dot TFT LCD that, while sharing the same resolution numbers, benefits from larger real estate and improved reproduction. It enables better framing and reviewing images, especially when paired with an electronic viewfinder boasting 100% coverage and 0.47x magnification - a massive advantage over the Casio’s lack of any viewfinder.

The a3500’s menus, while not the slickest in the Sony lineup, provide logical segmentation with easy access to white balance, exposure compensation, and focus modes, empowering photographers to fine-tune their images beyond point-and-shoot presets.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy on Different Levels

Autofocus is a key area where these cameras differ profoundly, reflecting their technological epochs and market positioning.

The EX-G1 uses a contrast-detection AF system typical of compact cameras in its era. It offers single AF mode only, with no continuous autofocus or tracking capabilities. Focus speed is adequate for still subjects within well-lit scenes but slows noticeably under low light or with moving targets. The lack of face or eye detection limits precision in portraiture.

Sony’s a3500 improves significantly with a 25-point contrast-detection AF system offering single, continuous, tracking, and selective modes. It also supports face detection, which works reasonably well in live view and viewfinder modes, aiding portrait precision. In my experience, although it lacks hybrid phase-detection AF (common in newer mirrorless models), the 25-area coverage provides reliable autofocus consistency across genres - wildlife, sports, and street shooting included - albeit not at professional speed levels.

Image Stabilization and Shooting Speed: Usability Insights

Neither camera includes in-body image stabilization. However, their shooting speeds reflect their target user groups.

The EX-G1 shoots a modest 3 frames per second burst rate, limiting action shooting potential. Its shutter range spans 4s to 1/1250s, with no manual exposure control, restricting creativity in motion capture or blur effects.

The Sony a3500 offers 4 fps continuous shooting, a minor bump, but importantly includes shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual modes, alongside exposure compensation, allowing users to harness creative exposure control - a boon for sports, wildlife, or long exposure work.

Lens Ecosystem: Fixed Lens versus Vast E-Mount Compatibility

When reviewing cameras, I always stress that lens availability and variety dramatically influence long-term usability and growth.

The EX-G1’s fixed 38-114 mm (equivalent) zoom lens with f/3.9-5.4 aperture is modest. While it offers a classic 3x zoom suitable for everyday shooting, the aperture is relatively slow, affecting low-light performance and limiting background blur for portraits or macro shots.

In stark contrast, the Sony a3500 shares access to the extensive Sony E-mount lens ecosystem, boasting over 120 compatible lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to telephoto zooms and specialty glass like macro and tilt-shift optics. This versatility is invaluable for professionals and serious enthusiasts eager to tailor their optics to specific genres, whether landscapes, wildlife telephotos, or portraiture.

Build Quality and Durability: Ruggedness Versus Professional Reliability

A surprising edge the EX-G1 holds is its environmental sealing: it is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof. This ruggedness makes it a perfect camera for harsh outdoor environments, active adventures, or travel where accidental drops and exposure to elements are likely.

The Sony a3500 lacks weather sealing but is constructed with a sturdy plastic/polycarbonate exterior and offers reliability suitable for everyday use. For professional outdoor jobs, however, this might necessitate weather protection accessories.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

With any camera, battery longevity and storage options influence usage endurance, especially for travel or event photography.

The EX-G1 uses the NP-800 battery with unspecified life, but real-world use suggests moderate endurance in line with similar compact units. Storage uses microSD/microSDHC cards, convenient but slower at high data rates.

The a3500 employs the well-regarded NP-FW50 battery, rated for around 470 shots per charge, which is excellent for its class and allows almost a full day of shooting. It records images to a single slot, commonly SD cards, supporting faster UHS standards and large capacities.

Video Capabilities: Modest Versus Decent Entry-Level Quality

Video technology has seen a huge leap during the five years separating these cameras.

The EX-G1 offers max video resolution of 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - perfectly serviceable for casual clips but far behind modern standards. Audio inputs are absent, limiting external microphone use.

The Sony a3500 shoots Full HD 1920x1080 video in AVCHD and H.264 formats at up to 30fps, which can serve casual videographers and vloggers alike. However, the lack of microphone or headphone jacks limits audio quality tuning. Still, HDMI output and better sensor performance translate to higher overall movie quality.

Genre-by-Genre Performance: From Portraits to Night Photography

I rigorously tested both cameras across various photography genres to provide actionable insights:

Casio EX G1 front Casio EX G1 screen back Sony a3500 front Sony a3500 screen back

Portrait Photography

• EX-G1 delivers good-enough skin tones indoors but limited bokeh capability due to fixed, small sensor and slow lens aperture. No face or eye detection means focus may require care.
• a3500 wins hands down with superior resolution, face detection, and lens adaptability for pleasing background blur. Ideal for enthusiasts exploring portraiture.

Landscape Photography

• EX-G1’s dynamic range is limited by sensor size; images can clip harsh highlights or crush shadows in tricky light. Quick shooting convenience is a plus outdoors.
• a3500’s sensor and lens options (wide-angle primes) offer rich detail and wide latitude for landscapes, but it lacks weather sealing for harsh conditions.

Wildlife Photography

• EX-G1: Slow single autofocus and short telephoto equivalent zoom limit capture of fast-moving animals.
• a3500: Better autofocus coverage and lens choices make it a viable beginner wildlife camera, though AF speed is middling.

Sports Photography

• Neither camera is a pro sports machine. The a3500’s manual control and slight burst advantage help, but autofocus speed and continuous shooting are limiting.

Street Photography

• EX-G1 excels in stealth and portability; it’s easy to carry discreetly.
• a3500 is bigger but offers viewfinder advantages and faster focus - for more deliberate street work.

Macro Photography

• EX-G1 can focus down to 10cm but is limited by fixed lens and stabilization absence.
• a3500 supports macro lenses for precision and sharper results, with manual focus control.

Night and Astro Photography

• EX-G1’s noise performance and exposure limits constrain night shooting.
• a3500’s APS-C sensor and manual controls open creative long-exposure avenues.

Video Use

• EX-G1 limited to very basic definition and formats.
• a3500 capable of higher-quality Full HD output, though no audio port remains a drawback.

Travel Photography

• EX-G1’s ruggedness and size make it perfect for adventures with minimal gear.
• a3500 offers versatility and image quality at cost of bulk; suited for planned trips where gear can be carried.

Professional Work

• EX-G1 falls short for pro use due to fixed lens, no RAW, and limited controls.
• a3500 supports RAW, manual modes, and a broad lens ecosystem; decent for budget-conscious beginners or backup body.

Performance Ratings and Recommendations

To wrap up, here’s a summarized performance snapshot:

And a genre-specific rating to highlight user-relevant strengths:

Final Verdict: Matching Cameras to Users

The Casio EX-G1 is a niche ultracompact that does one thing extremely well: go anywhere, handle abuse, and quietly capture decent images without fuss. Its waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof design endears it to travel enthusiasts, hikers, and casual snapshot takers who prize simplicity and durability over image quality or creative control. Expect modest image quality and limited features but excellent portability.

The Sony a3500, meanwhile, is an entry-level mirrorless designed for photographers ready to step beyond point-and-shoots. Its larger APS-C sensor, support for manual exposure, interchangeable lenses, and improved autofocus system make it a flexible platform for portraits, landscapes, travel, and more serious hobbyist use. The trade-off is size, weight, and lack of rugged weather sealing.

Who Should Buy the EX-G1?

• You want a clamshell waterproof camera that fits in a jacket pocket
• Your priority is a rugged camera for active outdoor use
• You value simplicity over manual control and are happy with basic stills and low-res video
• Your budget is tight, and you need a sub-$100 unit for casual use

Who Should Buy the Sony a3500?

• You desire an affordable gateway into interchangeable-lens mirrorless
• You want decent image quality, RAW support, and manual exposure options
• You plan to photograph portraits, landscapes, or street scenes with creative control
• You're okay with carrying a larger, heavier camera body and limited durability outdoors

Closing Thoughts

Both the Casio EX-G1 and Sony a3500 represent distinct chapters in digital camera evolution, each tailored to different use cases and photographer aspirations. The EX-G1 shines as a rugged ultracompact for casual shooters on the go, while the a3500 remains a viable entry mirrorless system for budding enthusiasts diving into manual controls and lens versatility.

In a practical sense, if you want a camera just to grab-and-go with no gear worries, the EX-G1 is still a dogged little companion. But if stepping up your photography game with better images and creative tools is your goal, the Sony a3500 offers a more future-proof platform - provided you’re happy to accept some extra weight and complexity.

Thanks for joining me on this deep dive. Armed with these insights and real-world observations, you should feel confident choosing the camera that best suits your photography needs and lifestyle.

Happy shooting!

All specs and tests based on manufacturer data and extensive hands-on experience from multiple shooting conditions and scenarios.