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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500

Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
56
Overall
47
Nikon 1 S1 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Nikon 1 S1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 197g - 102 x 61 x 30mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Replacement is Nikon 1 S2
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
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the 1 S1 (10MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the 1 S1 (1") and a3500 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 S1 was unveiled 9 months prior to the a3500 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the 1 S1 grades vs the a3500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S1 over the Sony a3500

 1 S1 a3500 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Nikon 1 S1

 a3500 1 S1 
IntroducedMarch 2014June 2013Fresher by 9 months

Common features in the Nikon 1 S1 and Sony a3500

 1 S1 a3500 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 S1 comes with outer dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the 1 S1 vs the a3500.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 S1 and a3500 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 S1 and a3500.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 S1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a3500 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 10MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older 1 S1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Portrait photography details
Sony a3500 Portrait photography details
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
77
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Street photography information
Sony a3500 Street photography information
69
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (197g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Sports photography features
Sony a3500 Sports photography features
49
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
good sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
60
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (470 shots)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Travel photography info
Sony a3500 Travel photography info
61
lighter than average (197 grams)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
great battery pack (470 shots)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (411 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Landscape photography factors
Sony a3500 Landscape photography factors
56
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (470 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 S1
Vlogging with Sony a3500
30
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (197 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
26
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone support
more heavy than average (411 grams)
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 S1 and Sony a3500
 Nikon 1 S1Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 S1 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-06-21 2014-03-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3872 x 2592 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Amount of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 15.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/60s 1/160s
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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 197 gr (0.43 lbs) 411 gr (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 61 x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 397 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 470 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $231 $398