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Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Ricoh WG-30W front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-30W
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 194g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Announced October 2014
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
  • Released March 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony A3000
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Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Ricoh and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-30W (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is very well matched but the WG-30W (1/2.3") and a3500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The WG-30W was brought out 7 months later than the a3500 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh WG-30W being a Compact camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the WG-30W grades against the a3500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-30W over the Sony a3500

 WG-30W a3500 
ReleasedOctober 2014March 2014Fresher by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Ricoh WG-30W

 a3500 WG-30W 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Ricoh WG-30W and Sony a3500

 WG-30W a3500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-30W provides exterior measurements of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 194 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has sizing of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the WG-30W compared to the a3500.

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-30W and a3500 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The visual here should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-30W and a3500.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The WG-30W due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony a3500 will give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher WG-30W will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W Portrait photography information
Sony a3500 Portrait photography information
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
77
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W Street photography advice
Sony a3500 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W Sports photography info
Sony a3500 Sports photography info
45
built in image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
60
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
great battery power (470 CIPA)
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W Travel photography information
Sony a3500 Travel photography information
71
environment proofing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
great battery power (470 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (411 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh WG-30W
Landscape photography with Sony a3500
43
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (16MP)
environment proofing
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh WG-30W
Vlogging with Sony a3500
33
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
26
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (411g)
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Ricoh WG-30W vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-30W and Sony a3500
 Ricoh WG-30WSony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-30W Sony Alpha a3500
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-10-09 2014-03-21
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m (Auto ISO) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 194 gr (0.43 lb) 411 gr (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 300 photographs 470 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal -
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $280 $398