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Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500

Portability
86
Imaging
44
Features
28
Overall
37
Sigma DP2 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Sigma DP2
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 41mm (F) lens
  • 280g - 113 x 60 x 56mm
  • Launched September 2009
  • Updated by Sigma DP2s
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
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
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Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the DP2 (5MP) and a3500 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The DP2 was introduced 5 years earlier than the a3500 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sigma DP2 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the DP2 scores against the a3500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 over the Sony a3500

 DP2 a3500 

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sigma DP2

 a3500 DP2 
IntroducedMarch 2014September 2009Fresher by 54 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Sigma DP2 and Sony a3500

 DP2 a3500 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sigma DP2 has got outer measurements of 113mm x 60mm x 56mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 2.2") and a weight of 280 grams (0.62 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has proportions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Compare the Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the DP2 against the a3500.

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the DP2 and a3500 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specs. The graphic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the DP2 and a3500.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony a3500 to provide greater detail using its extra 15 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older DP2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP2 Street photography advice
Sony a3500 Street photography advice
67
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (280 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sigma DP2
Sports photography with Sony a3500
30
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
can't change focal length (41mm)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
60
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (470 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than others in class (280g)
has built in flash
fast maximum aperture (f)
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
60
great battery life (470 shots)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (411 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Landscape photography information
Sony a3500 Landscape photography information
48
manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (41mm)
small screen (2.5 inch)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (5MP)
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (470 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Vlogging information
Sony a3500 Vlogging information
28
fast maximum aperture (f)
lighter than others in class (280 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (320 x 240 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
26
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competitors (411 grams)
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Sigma DP2 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 and Sony a3500
 Sigma DP2Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP2 Sony Alpha a3500
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-09-21 2014-03-21
Physical type Large Sensor Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 20.7 x 13.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 285.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 2640 x 1760 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 3200 16000
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 41mm (1x) -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 1.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes Forced Flash, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Synchro Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 320x240 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 280 gr (0.62 lb) 411 gr (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 60 x 56mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 2.2") 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 - 470 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card -
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $649 $398