Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500

Its time to examine more in depth at the Ricoh CX1 and Sony a3500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the CX1 (9MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the CX1 (1/2.3") and a3500 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The CX1 was unveiled 6 years before the a3500 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh CX1 being a Compact camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the CX1 scores against the a3500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh CX1 & Sony Alpha a3500. The full galleries are viewable at Ricoh CX1 Gallery & Sony a3500 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Ricoh CX1 features external dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony a3500 has sizing of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Ricoh CX1 and Sony a3500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the CX1 compared to the a3500.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the CX1 and a3500 is 93 and 69 respectively.

Normally, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the CX1 and a3500.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The CX1 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony a3500 will provide greater detail having an extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged CX1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.