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Sony a3500 vs Sony W730

Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
33
Overall
36

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Key Specs

Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony A3000
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
Photography Glossary

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Sony a3500 and Sony W730, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the a3500 (20MP) and W730 (16MP) and the a3500 (APS-C) and W730 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The a3500 was announced 15 months later than the W730 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the a3500 grades vs the W730 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony W730

 a3500 W730 
ReleasedMarch 2014January 2013More recent by 15 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony a3500

 W730 a3500 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony W730

 a3500 W730 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Sony a3500 comes with outside measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony W730 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Sony a3500 and Sony W730 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the a3500 against the W730.

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the a3500 and W730 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by going through specs. The photograph underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the a3500 and W730.

All in all, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The a3500 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony a3500 will show extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively. The fresher a3500 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a3500 Portrait photography details
Sony W730 Portrait photography details
77
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony a3500
Street photography with Sony W730
56
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (411 grams)
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competition (122g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony a3500 Sports photography advice
Sony W730 Sports photography advice
59
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery life (470 shots)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography information
Sony W730 Travel photography information
60
good battery life (470 shots)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (411g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition (122 grams)
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a3500 Landscape photography factors
Sony W730 Landscape photography factors
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
38
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a3500 Vlogging highlights
Sony W730 Vlogging highlights
26
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
heavier than competition in class (411g)
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (122g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Sony a3500 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony W730
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a3500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-03-21 2013-01-08
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ image -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 5456 x 3632 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 16000 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) 2.80 m
Flash options Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 411g (0.91 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 pictures 240 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $398 $138