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Sony a3500 vs Sony A57

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59
Sony Alpha a3500 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Old Model is Sony A3000
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Refreshed by Sony A58
Photography Glossary

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Sony a3500 vs Sony A57, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the a3500 (20MP) and A57 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The a3500 was released 19 months later than the A57 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the a3500 matches up against the A57 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Sony A57

 a3500 A57 
RevealedMarch 2014September 2012Fresher by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony a3500

 A57 a3500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony a3500 and Sony A57

 a3500 A57 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony a3500 has exterior 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) and the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the a3500 against the A57.

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the a3500 and A57 is 69 and 64 respectively.

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the a3500 and A57.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Sony a3500 to offer you more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger a3500 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a3500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony a3500 Street photography info
Sony A57 Street photography info
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (411g)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony a3500 Sports photography details
Sony A57 Sports photography details
60
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a3500 Travel photography info
Sony A57 Travel photography info
60
better than average battery power (470 shots)
MP count good (20MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (411g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
67
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a3500 Landscape photography information
Sony A57 Landscape photography information
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
72
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony a3500
Vlogging with Sony A57
26
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than others (411 grams)
77
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
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Sony a3500 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a3500 and Sony A57
 Sony Alpha a3500Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a3500 Sony SLT-A57
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-03-21 2012-09-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ image -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5456 x 3632 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 16000 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 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 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 411g (0.91 lb) 618g (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 470 shots 550 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $398 $1,000