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Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
50
Features
74
Overall
59

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Announced March 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony A3000
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 III
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Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Sony. The resolution of the a3500 (20MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is relatively well matched but the a3500 (APS-C) and RX100 II (1") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The a3500 was revealed 9 months after the RX100 II so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the a3500 grades vs the RX100 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony RX100 II

 a3500 RX100 II 
RevealedMarch 2014June 2013More modern by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Sony a3500

 RX100 II a3500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony RX100 II

 a3500 RX100 II 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony a3500 enjoys physical dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 II has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the a3500 versus the RX100 II.

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the a3500 and RX100 II is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the a3500 and RX100 II.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The a3500 has got the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF easier. The more modern a3500 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a3500 Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography info
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
70
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Street photography camera
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony a3500 Sports photography features
Sony RX100 II Sports photography features
60
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
good battery life (470 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (350 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 II Travel photography factors
60
good battery life (470 CIPA)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (411g)
display is not selfie friendly
79
good battery pack (350 shots)
lighter than competition (281 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a3500 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography features
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
good battery pack (350 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a3500 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 II Vlogging advice
26
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing mic jack
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
37
really wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (281 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
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Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony RX100 II
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-03-21 2013-06-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ image -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
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 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 16000 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 411 grams (0.91 lb) 281 grams (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life 470 pictures 350 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $398 $598