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Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30

Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Replaced the Sony A3000
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Released September 2014
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Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Sony a3500 and Sony QX30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Lens-style and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the a3500 (20MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is pretty similar but the a3500 (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The a3500 was released 5 months prior to the QX30 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the a3500 grades vs the QX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony QX30

 a3500 QX30 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution230k0kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony a3500

 QX30 a3500 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony QX30

 a3500 QX30 
ReleasedMarch 2014September 2014Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Sony a3500 provides outside measurements 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 QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Sony a3500 and Sony QX30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the a3500 versus the QX30.

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the a3500 and QX30 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading specifications. The graphic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the a3500 and QX30.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The a3500 contains the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF easier.

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony a3500
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
77
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
38
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony a3500
Street photography with Sony QX30
56
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony a3500 Sports photography advice
Sony QX30 Sports photography advice
59
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery pack (470 shots)
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography features
Sony QX30 Travel photography features
60
good battery pack (470 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony a3500
Landscape photography with Sony QX30
70
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
39
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen ( inch)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery life (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
26
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no microphone support
more heavy than competition (411 grams)
35
rather wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
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Sony a3500 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Revealed 2014-03-21 2014-09-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ image Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
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
Highest Possible resolution 5456 x 3632 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 16000 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" -
Resolution of screen 230k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 411 grams (0.91 lb) 193 grams (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 200 images
Battery format 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 feature
Type of storage - microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $398 $348