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Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Released October 2019
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony A3000
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon Z50 versus Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Z50 (21MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The Z50 was announced 5 years after the a3500 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the Z50 scores versus the a3500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Sony a3500

 Z50 a3500 
IntroducedOctober 2019March 2014Newer by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Nikon Z50

 a3500 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Sony a3500

 Z50 a3500 
Focus manually More precise focus

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z50 comes with exterior dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Sony a3500 has proportions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Nikon Z50 versus Sony a3500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the Z50 against the a3500.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z50 and a3500 is 74 and 69 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specs. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Z50 and a3500.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Nikon Z50 to offer you more detail with its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher Z50 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography information
Sony a3500 Portrait photography information
80
focusing manually
decent MP (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
77
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z50
Street photography with Sony a3500
73
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (397g)
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography info
Sony a3500 Sports photography info
75
decent MP (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
60
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z50
Travel photography with Sony a3500
77
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
features touch focus
decent MP (21MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (397 grams)
60
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (411g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography features
Sony a3500 Landscape photography features
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
decent MP (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no image stabilization
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging info
Sony a3500 Vlogging info
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (397 grams)
26
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than average (411g)
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Sony a3500
 Nikon Z50Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z50 Sony Alpha a3500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2019-10-10 2014-03-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 BIONZ image
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 51200 16000
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 209 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Sony E
Amount of lenses 15 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options - Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397g (0.88 pounds) 411g (0.91 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 shots 470 shots
Battery form Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) -
Storage slots One One
Price at release $857 $398