Sony A230 vs Sony a3500

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Sony A230 versus Sony a3500, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are designed by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the A230 (10MP) and a3500 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The A230 was announced 5 years before the a3500 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the A230 grades against the a3500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 and Sony Alpha a3500. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony A230 Gallery and Sony a3500 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A230 comes with external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and 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 out the Sony A230 versus Sony a3500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the A230 against the a3500.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A230 and a3500 is 69 and 69 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The visual below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A230 and a3500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony a3500 to offer you extra detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older A230 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.