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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Nikon D3500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed August 2018
  • Old Model is Nikon D3400
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Nikon D3500 versus Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the D3500 (24MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The D3500 was announced 8 years after the A550 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the D3500 matches up against the A550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Sony A550

 D3500 A550 
LaunchedAugust 2018December 2009Newer by 107 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Nikon D3500

 A550 D3500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k921kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Sony A550

 D3500 A550 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3500 offers outside dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D3500 versus Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the D3500 compared to the A550.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3500 and A550 is 72 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The pic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3500 and A550.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Nikon D3500 to provide you with greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The younger D3500 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3500
Portrait photography with Sony A550
81
has manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
69
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others (365g)
great high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3500 Sports photography information
Sony A550 Sports photography information
70
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
good battery pack (1,550 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3500
Travel photography with Sony A550
71
good battery pack (1,550 CIPA)
lighter than others (365 grams)
supports bluetooth
MP count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
52
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (480 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3500
Landscape photography with Sony A550
75
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (1,550 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
66
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
not so great battery life (480 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3500 Vlogging factors
Sony A550 Vlogging factors
31
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (365g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic support
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Sony A550
 Nikon D3500Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2018-08-29 2009-12-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
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, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 365 gr (0.80 pounds) 632 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical 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 score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 1550 photographs 480 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $397 $749