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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500

Portability
92
Imaging
45
Features
63
Overall
52
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 201g - 101 x 61 x 29mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 J2
  • Newer Model is Nikon 1 J4
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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the 1 J3 (14MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the 1 J3 (1") and a3500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 J3 was launched 3 months prior to the a3500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon 1 J3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the 1 J3 grades vs the a3500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J3 over the Sony a3500

 1 J3 a3500 
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Nikon 1 J3

 a3500 1 J3 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony a3500

 1 J3 a3500 
LaunchedNovember 2013March 2014Same generation
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J3 has got external dimensions of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 201 grams (0.44 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).

Analyze the Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the 1 J3 against the a3500.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 J3 and a3500 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out specs. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J3 and a3500.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 1 J3 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony a3500 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony a3500 Portrait photography highlights
59
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J3
Street photography with Sony a3500
70
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (201 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
heavier than average in class (411g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J3
Sports photography with Sony a3500
58
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
60
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (470 shots)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Travel photography factors
Sony a3500 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competitors (201g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
good battery life (470 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (411 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Landscape photography camera
64
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (220 shots)
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (470 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Vlogging factors
Sony a3500 Vlogging factors
30
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (201g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
26
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than average in class (411g)
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J3 and Sony a3500
 Nikon 1 J3Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J3 Sony Alpha a3500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-11-30 2014-03-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3072 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 135 25
Cross type focus points 41 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 15.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional 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 201 gr (0.44 lb) 411 gr (0.91 lb)
Physical dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 420 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 470 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $170 $398