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Leica SL vs Sony a3500

Portability
67
Imaging
72
Features
78
Overall
74
Leica SL front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Leica SL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 50000
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 847g - 147 x 104 x 39mm
  • Announced October 2015
  • Alternative Name is Typ 601
  • Refreshed by Leica SL2
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Replaced the Sony A3000
Photography Glossary

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Leica SL versus Sony a3500, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the SL (24MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is fairly close but the SL (Full frame) and a3500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The SL was launched 20 months after the a3500 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the SL scores against the a3500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica SL over the Sony a3500

 SL a3500 
AnnouncedOctober 2015March 2014More modern by 20 months
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Leica SL

 a3500 SL 

Common features in the Leica SL and Sony a3500

 SL a3500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Leica SL provides outside measurements of 147mm x 104mm x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") having a weight of 847 grams (1.87 lbs) while the Sony a3500 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Leica SL versus Sony a3500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SL vs the a3500.

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SL and a3500 is 67 and 69 respectively.

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The pic below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SL and a3500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SL due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Leica SL will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images much more aggressively. The more recent SL provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica SL
Portrait photography with Sony a3500
83
you can focus manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
77
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica SL Street photography factors
Sony a3500 Street photography factors
69
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
environment sealing
good high ISO (50,000)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Leica SL Sports photography information
Sony a3500 Sports photography information
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (400 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
60
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery power (470 shots)
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica SL as a Travel photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Travel photography camera
65
environment sealing
includes touch to focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
terrible battery power (400 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
60
great battery power (470 CIPA)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (411 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica SL Landscape photography highlights
Sony a3500 Landscape photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (50,000)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (400 shots)
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (470 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica SL Vlogging advice
Sony a3500 Vlogging advice
33
touchscreen functionality
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
26
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (411g)
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Leica SL vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica SL and Sony a3500
 Leica SLSony Alpha a3500
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Sony
Model type Leica SL Sony Alpha a3500
Otherwise known as Typ 601 -
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-10-21 2014-03-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Maestro II BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 50000 16000
Minimum native ISO 50 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L Sony E
Number of lenses 30 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 4,400k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.47x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 847g (1.87 lb) 411g (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 104 x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 88 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1821 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photographs 470 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-SCL4 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1) -
Card slots Dual 1
Price at launch $7,450 $398