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Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100

Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 front
Portability
92
Imaging
50
Features
44
Overall
47

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Superseded the Sony A3000
Sony QX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 179g - 63 x 63 x 56mm
  • Introduced September 2013
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Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Lens-style and both are sold by Sony. The image resolution of the a3500 (20MP) and the QX100 (20MP) is relatively similar but the a3500 (APS-C) and QX100 (1") come with different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The a3500 was unveiled 7 months after the QX100 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX100 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the a3500 scores versus the QX100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony QX100

 a3500 QX100 
IntroducedMarch 2014September 2013More modern by 7 months
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution230k0kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX100 over the Sony a3500

 QX100 a3500 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony QX100

 a3500 QX100 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony a3500 offers external dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Sony QX100 has dimensions of 63mm x 63mm x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2") with a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the a3500 against the QX100.

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the a3500 and QX100 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The image below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the a3500 and QX100.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The a3500 has got the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The more recent a3500 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony a3500
Portrait photography with Sony QX100
77
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
52
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
has face detect focusing
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony a3500 Street photography advice
Sony QX100 Street photography advice
56
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (411 grams)
71
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX100 as a Sports photography camera
59
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery power (470 shots)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography advice
Sony QX100 Travel photography advice
60
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (411 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
boasts focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony a3500
Landscape photography with Sony QX100
70
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
54
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
small screen ( inches)
lack of manual exposure
no RAW support
not so great battery power (200 shots)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a3500 Vlogging information
Sony QX100 Vlogging information
26
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (411g)
38
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
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Sony a3500 vs Sony QX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony QX100
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Introduced 2014-03-21 2013-09-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ image -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5456 x 3632 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 16000 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches -
Screen resolution 230k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT LCD Depends on connected smartphone
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. None
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 411 gr (0.91 lb) 179 gr (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 63 x 63 x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 200 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $398 $268