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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Nikon D3500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Announced August 2018
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D3400
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Successor is Sony A330
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Nikon D3500 versus Sony A300, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the D3500 (24MP) and A300 (10MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3500 was unveiled 10 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the D3500 scores versus the A300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Sony A300

 D3500 A300 
RevealedAugust 2018January 2008More recent by 129 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Nikon D3500

 A300 D3500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Sony A300

 D3500 A300 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Nikon D3500 comes with physical dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony A300 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D3500 versus Sony A300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the D3500 and the A300.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the D3500 and A300 is 72 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the D3500 and A300.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You can anticipate the Nikon D3500 to show more detail having an extra 14MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern D3500 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3500 Portrait photography advice
Sony A300 Portrait photography advice
81
has manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D3500
Street photography with Sony A300
69
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (365 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A300 as a Sports photography camera
70
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
great battery pack (1,550 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
54
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3500 Travel photography highlights
Sony A300 Travel photography highlights
71
great battery pack (1,550 shots)
lighter than competition in class (365 grams)
has bluetooth
MP count decent (24MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
45
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3500
Landscape photography with Sony A300
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (1,550 shots)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
57
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3500 Vlogging information
Sony A300 Vlogging information
31
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (365g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Sony A300
 Nikon D3500Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2018-08-29 2008-01-30
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 365 gr (0.80 lb) 632 gr (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 538
Other
Battery life 1550 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL14a -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $397 $0