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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31
Ricoh CX1 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Ricoh CX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-200mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 180g - 102 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released February 2009
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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony A3000
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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX1 over the Sony a3500

 CX1 a3500 
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Ricoh CX1

 a3500 CX1 
LaunchedMarch 2014February 2009More modern by 61 months

Common features in the Ricoh CX1 and Sony a3500

 CX1 a3500 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

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

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

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.

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh CX1
Portrait photography with Sony a3500
25
focusing manually
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh CX1
Street photography with Sony a3500
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Sports photography factors
Sony a3500 Sports photography factors
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
60
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (470 shots)
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Travel photography info
Sony a3500 Travel photography info
59
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
better than average battery life (470 shots)
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (411g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Landscape photography information
Sony a3500 Landscape photography information
42
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (470 shots)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX1 Vlogging features
Sony a3500 Vlogging features
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic socket
26
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no external mic support
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Ricoh CX1 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX1 and Sony a3500
 Ricoh CX1Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh CX1 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-02-19 2014-03-21
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Smooth Imaging Engine IV BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 9 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3456 x 2592 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 1600 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-200mm (7.1x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate - 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 gr (0.40 lb) 411 gr (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 470 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model DB-70 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal -
Card slots One One
Cost at release $299 $398