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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 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
  • Introduced August 2018
  • Older Model is Nikon D3400
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Nikon D3500 versus Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the D3500 (24MP) and A500 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D3500 was announced 9 years later than the A500 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the D3500 matches up versus the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Sony A500

 D3500 A500 
RevealedAugust 2018August 2009More recent by 110 months
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Nikon D3500

 A500 D3500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Sony A500

 D3500 A500 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3500 enjoys exterior dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Nikon D3500 versus Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the D3500 and the A500.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3500 and A500 is 72 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at specifications. The visual here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the D3500 and A500.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Nikon D3500 to give extra detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer D3500 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3500 Portrait photography features
Sony A500 Portrait photography features
81
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D3500
Street photography with Sony A500
69
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (365g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
74
screen tilts
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 A500 as a Sports photography camera
70
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery power (1,550 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
71
great battery power (1,550 per charge)
lighter than others in class (365g)
connects via bluetooth
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
43
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (520 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (1,550 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
bad battery pack (520 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
31
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (365g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing mic port
9
no video
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Sony A500
 Nikon D3500Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2018-08-29 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings 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, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 1550 shots 520 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14a NP-FM500H
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 SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $397 $638