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Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III 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
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 IV
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Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Sony a3500 versus Sony RX100 III, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both created by Sony. The resolution of the a3500 (20MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is fairly well matched but the a3500 (APS-C) and RX100 III (1") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The a3500 was released around the same time to the RX100 III so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the a3500 matches up vs the RX100 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony RX100 III

 a3500 RX100 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony a3500

 RX100 III a3500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony RX100 III

 a3500 RX100 III 
ReleasedMarch 2014May 2014Similar age
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony a3500 provides physical dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 III has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check out the Sony a3500 versus Sony RX100 III in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the a3500 against the RX100 III.

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the a3500 and RX100 III is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The visual here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the a3500 and RX100 III.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The a3500 uses the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier.

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony a3500
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
77
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
64
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony a3500 Street photography features
Sony RX100 III Street photography features
56
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (411g)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (290 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony a3500
Sports photography with Sony RX100 III
59
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (470 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 III Travel photography features
60
good battery power (470 CIPA)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (411g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
85
lighter than others in class (290 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
really wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Landscape photography camera
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (470 shots)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
73
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony a3500
Vlogging with Sony RX100 III
26
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition in class (411 grams)
80
really wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (290g)
missing external mic support
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Sony a3500 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony RX100 III
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha a3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-03-21 2014-05-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ image Bionz X
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 20MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5456 x 3632 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 16000 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) -
Flash modes Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 411g (0.91 pounds) 290g (0.64 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life 470 photographs 320 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $398 $748