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Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500

Portability
55
Imaging
83
Features
83
Overall
83
Nikon Z8 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Nikon Z8
(Full Review)
  • 46MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.20" Tilting Display
  • ISO 64 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 910g - 144 x 119 x 83mm
  • Announced May 2023
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Replaced the Sony A3000
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Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the Z8 (46MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the Z8 (Full frame) and a3500 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The Z8 was introduced 9 years after the a3500 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the Z8 matches up vs the a3500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z8 over the Sony a3500

 Z8 a3500 
ReleasedMay 2023March 2014More modern by 112 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3.20"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2089k230kCrisper screen (+1859k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Nikon Z8

 a3500 Z8 

Common features in the Nikon Z8 and Sony a3500

 Z8 a3500 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z8 has got outer measurements of 144mm x 119mm x 83mm (5.7" x 4.7" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 910 grams (2.01 lbs) whilst the Sony a3500 has proportions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

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Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the Z8 compared to the a3500.

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z8 and a3500 is 55 and 69 respectively.

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The picture underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the Z8 and a3500.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Z8 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Nikon Z8 will produce more detail using its extra 26 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger Z8 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z8 Portrait photography features
Sony a3500 Portrait photography features
89
you can focus manually
resolution is high (46MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z8 as a Street photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Street photography camera
72
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than average (910g)
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z8 Sports photography information
Sony a3500 Sports photography information
81
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (46MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/s)
terrible battery life (330 CIPA)
60
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (470 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z8 Travel photography details
Sony a3500 Travel photography details
61
environment sealing
has bluetooth
offers touch focus
resolution is high (46 megapixels)
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
more heavy than average (910g)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (411g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z8 Landscape photography highlights
Sony a3500 Landscape photography highlights
84
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.20 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (46MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery life (330 shots)
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon Z8
Vlogging with Sony a3500
33
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (7680 x 4320 pxls)
includes external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than average (910g)
26
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (411g)
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Nikon Z8 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z8 and Sony a3500
 Nikon Z8Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z8 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2023-05-10 2014-03-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ image
Sensor type Stacked CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 46 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 8256 x 5504 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 25600 16000
Highest enhanced ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 32 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 493 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Sony E
Number of lenses 46 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.20 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 2,089 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 900s 30s
Fastest shutter speed - 1/4000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Front-curtain sync, Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Off Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 7680 x 4320 @ 30p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM7680 x 4320 @ 25p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM7680 x 4320 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, L 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 7680x4320 1920x1080
Video format H.264, H.265 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 910 gr (2.01 lbs) 411 gr (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 144 x 119 x 83mm (5.7" x 4.7" x 3.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 98 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 26.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2548 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 470 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15c NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage one CFexpress Type B slot and one UHS-II SD slot -
Card slots 2 1
Cost at release $3,999 $398