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Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Introduced August 2018
  • Replaced the Nikon D3400
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100
  • New Model is Sony RX100 III
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Nikon D3500 and Sony RX100 II, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the D3500 (24MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is pretty similar but the D3500 (APS-C) and RX100 II (1") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The D3500 was introduced 5 years after the RX100 II which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon D3500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the D3500 matches up versus the RX100 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Sony RX100 II

 D3500 RX100 II 
AnnouncedAugust 2018June 2013Newer by 63 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Nikon D3500

 RX100 II D3500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k921kSharper screen (+308k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Sony RX100 II

 D3500 RX100 II 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3500 enjoys external measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Sony RX100 II has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D3500 and Sony RX100 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the D3500 vs the RX100 II.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the D3500 and RX100 II is 72 and 89 respectively.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the D3500 and RX100 II.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The D3500 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Nikon D3500 will offer greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer D3500 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3500 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography factors
81
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
70
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3500 Street photography features
Sony RX100 II Street photography features
69
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (365 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3500 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 II Sports photography factors
70
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery (1,550 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
good battery power (350 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Travel photography camera
71
great battery (1,550 shots)
lighter than others (365 grams)
supports bluetooth
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
80
good battery power (350 shots)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Landscape photography camera
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (1,550 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
good battery power (350 CIPA)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D3500
Vlogging with Sony RX100 II
31
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (365g)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
37
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
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Nikon D3500 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Sony RX100 II
 Nikon D3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2018-08-29 2013-06-27
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW support
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 309 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes 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, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 281 gr (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life 1550 photographs 350 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14a NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $397 $598