Sony a3500 vs Sony A77 II: A Thorough Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

When it comes to choosing a camera that fits your style, skill level, and photographic ambitions, the sheer selection available can be overwhelming, especially within a brand as extensive as Sony. Today, we will dissect two distinct models announced in 2014 - the entry-level mirrorless Sony a3500 and the more advanced DSLR-style Sony A77 II - to help you navigate their strengths, weaknesses, and real-world impact on your photography journey through comprehensive technical and practical evaluation.

Drawing from extensive hands-on testing and professional experience with both mirrorless and DSLR platforms, we’ll explore sensor technology, autofocus systems, ergonomics, shooting capabilities across diverse photography disciplines, and value for investment. This comparison aims to empower you with grounded, nuanced insights - not just specifications - so you can make an informed choice tailored to your photographic demands.

Physical Design and Handling: The Feel of Your Instrument

The first impression of any camera lies in handling - a tactile interaction that mediates your creative control. Both the a3500 and A77 II maintain a typical SLR-style body but cater to different usage philosophies.

Sony a3500 impresses with its compact, lightweight chassis weighing only 411 grams and physical dimensions of 128 x 91 x 85 mm. This entry-level mirrorless sports a relatively small footprint that eases portability. However, its grip and button layout reflect its budget orientation, with fewer advanced controls on hand, meaning more menu diving for complex settings. Its modest ergonomics suit casual photographers or newcomers valuing simplicity without bulk.

The Sony A77 II, tipping the scales at 647 grams with a larger 143 x 104 x 81 mm profile, offers a more substantial mid-size DSLR body built for enthusiast and professional users. The heft translates to enhanced grip stability, especially beneficial with long telephoto lenses or heavy setups. Its distended grip and intuitive button placement target users who desire quick reflexes and direct adjustment of exposure parameters without wrestling menus.

The unambiguous win for portability goes to the a3500, but for those prioritizing confidence in grip and speed of operation, the A77 II’s size plays to its advantage.

Control Layout and Interface Usability: Intuition Meets Technology

Looking closer at the control panels reveals each camera’s philosophy in user interaction.

The a3500 employs a minimalistic approach: a simplified top deck with basic mode dials and a modest rear control cluster. Its 3-inch fixed TFT LCD screen (230k dots resolution) lacks touchscreen functionality, limiting quick menu navigation or tactile focus pull.

Conversely, the A77 II flaunts a more sophisticated control arrangement featuring a top screen readout (always handy for quick settings checks in bright light), and a 3-inch fully articulated LCD with significantly higher resolution (1229k dots), accommodating live view shooting with flexible angling for awkward compositions and video recording. Although it lacks touchscreen input, physical buttons and a joystick provide tactile control favored by advanced users.

Both cameras employ electronic viewfinders, but the A77 II’s EVF shines with a 2359k dot resolution and 0.73x magnification, delivering a crisp, detailed preview - critical for manual focusing or composing in bright conditions. The a3500 uses a more modest EVF setup (no specified resolution, 0.47x magnification), sufficient but lacking the immersive clarity of the A77 II.

For interface and ergonomics geared toward seasoned photographers, the A77 II decisively leads; the a3500’s design prioritizes entry-level ease but feels comparatively barebones.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of Your Photography

At the core of any camera lies the sensor - the medium that captures your vision. Both models use APS-C sized CMOS sensors (23.5 x 15.6 mm), a popular choice balancing image quality and lens compatibility.

The Sony a3500 features a 20.1-megapixel sensor paired with Sony’s BIONZ image processor. The anti-aliasing filter is present, slightly softening detail to reduce moiré at the expense of maximum sharpness. Native ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 16,000, but real-world low-light performance is modest, largely due to the older sensor design and lack of in-body image stabilization.

In contrast, the A77 II upgrades performance by offering a 24.3-megapixel sensor combined with the more powerful BIONZ X processor, significantly improving readout speeds, dynamic range, and noise control. The addition of sensor-shift image stabilization enhances steady handheld shooting, notably beneficial in macro, telephoto, and low-light scenarios. ISO extends natively up to 25,600 (expandable down to ISO 50), with outstanding noise performance at higher sensitivities, validated by DxOMark’s score of 82 overall, with a color depth of 24.4 and dynamic range surpassing 13 stops.

This translates directly into sharper, cleaner images with better color fidelity and latitude for post-processing. The higher resolution mesh also suits large printing or cropping demands.

In summary, the A77 II offers a significant leap in sensor output and image quality potential, particularly appealing for critical use like landscapes and studio work, whereas the a3500 remains serviceable for casual photography and sharing on screens.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking in Action

For professionals and enthusiasts alike, autofocus (AF) capabilities often dictate shooting versatility and success, especially in dynamic or fast-paced environments.

The a3500 employs a contrast-detection AF system with 25 focus points. This system is reliable for static, well-lit subjects but tends to lag or hunt in challenging light. Face detection is supported, facilitating portrait work, but lack of phase-detection and animal eye AF limits rapid tracking or wildlife shooting effectiveness.

The A77 II, with a sophisticated hybrid AF system including 79 phase-detection points (15 cross-type), leverages fast, precise autofocus for moving subjects. This system excels in continuous AF and tracking, with face detection support, delivering snappy focus acquisition in stills and video. Its ability to shoot at 12 frames per second with full AF tracking outperforms the a3500’s more leisurely 4 fps burst rate, suiting sports, wildlife, and action photographers.

The advanced AF mechanism of the A77 II clearly supports demanding shooting scenarios where speed and accuracy are critical, whereas the a3500 is better matched with slower, deliberate shooting.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

For photographers shooting outdoors, build quality and weather sealing can make or break a camera's reliability.

The a3500 lacks environmental sealing and employs a basic plastic body construction contributing to its light weight but limited toughness. It is not dust-proof or moisture resistant, making it vulnerable in harsh or unpredictable conditions.

In contrast, the A77 II features partial weather sealing designed to resist mild dust and moisture intrusion, although it is not fully ruggedized or waterproof. Its magnesium alloy frame provides a durable build that withstands professional use better. This enhances reliability for landscape, wildlife, or travel photographers who operate in inclement weather.

While neither model is designed for extreme ruggedness, the A77 II’s superior build affords a degree of dependability appreciated by serious photographers.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Vision

Extending the earlier notes on ergonomics, the a3500’s fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 230k dots offers basic live view but lacks articulation, limiting creative framing from unusual angles.

The A77 II’s fully articulated 3-inch LCD at 1229k dot resolution provides superior flexibility with tilt and swivel mechanisms - ideal for macro or video shooters and those working in tight spaces or unfamiliar angles.

From the shooting experience standpoint, the A77 II’s higher-resolution EVF (2359k dots) offers bright, accurate framing that augments manual focusing and previewing in bright sunlight, an edge over the rudimentary EVF of the a3500.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Your Creative Toolkit

Sony’s E-mount system underpins the a3500, compatible with 121 native lenses, covering everything from budget primes to professional zooms. This mount’s compact mirrorless design often yields smaller lenses suited for travel and street photography.

The A77 II, using the Sony/Minolta Alpha A-mount with 143 lenses, offers a mature and extensive lens ecosystem geared towards advanced users, including a plethora of high-quality telephotos, primes, and specialized optics. The larger mount supports more traditional DSLR glass and third-party options.

Both camera ecosystems are solid, but the A77 II offers marginally more variety and legacy lens options, making it more adaptable for professionals or those with existing Sony Minolta gear.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

Battery efficiency is crucial for prolonged shoots. The a3500 uses the NP-FW50 battery, rated for approximately 470 shots per charge. While adequate for casual use, heavy shooting or video recording will demand spare batteries.

The A77 II employs a larger NP-FM500H battery with a marginally longer rating of 480 shots, plus benefits from more power management options, practical for day-long shooting sessions.

Both models have a single card slot: the a3500 supports unspecified storage types (primarily SD cards), while the A77 II supports multiple media including SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo formats - the latter giving flexibility for different workflows.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Connectivity varies significantly between models.

The a3500 lacks built-in wireless capabilities such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, which constrains immediate content transfer or remote control options - an inconvenience for social media enthusiasts or mobile professionals.

The A77 II incorporates built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing seamless pairing with smartphones and tablets for quick image transfer, remote shutter control, and GPS tagging via the mobile device. This integration aligns with contemporary shooting habits and professional workflows.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Understanding how these cameras perform across different photography styles gives practical clarity on their strengths and best-use scenarios.

Sony a3500 front Sony a3500 screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters demand exquisite skin tone rendition, sharp eye detection, and pleasing bokeh.

• a3500 renders skin tones decently for entry-level users but lacks sophisticated eye AF. Its APS-C sensor and E-mount lenses provide competent bokeh with fast primes, but image stabilization absence means critical handholding requires care.
• A77 II excels with higher resolution, advanced face/eye detection AF, and in-body stabilization, producing crisp portraits with creamy background separation using native A-mount fast lenses.

Landscape Photography

Here, resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing count.

• a3500 offers 20MP resolution and moderate dynamic range but is limited by its build and sensor age.
• A77 II with 24MP and 13+ stops of dynamic range, paired with weather resistance, provides sturdy tools for demanding outdoor shoots, allowing more post-processing latitude.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed and tracking are paramount.

• a3500’s contrast-based AF and 4 fps burst restrict its use in fast action.
• A77 II’s advanced 79-point phase-detection AF and 12 fps burst with tracking suit rapid subject capture with reliable focus and exposure locking.

Street Photography

Compactness and discretion matter.

• a3500’s smaller size and lighter weight favor candid street shots.
• A77 II is bulkier but its quick AF and articulated screen can improve shooting flexibility in urban clutter.

Macro Photography

Precise focusing and stabilization matter.

• a3500 lacks stabilization and advanced focusing.
• A77 II’s sensor stabilization and rapid AF assist close-up detail capture and sharp imagery handheld.

Night and Astro Photography

Low noise and long exposures are critical.

• a3500’s noise performance at high ISO is limited.
• A77 II provides cleaner images at ISO 1600+ and benefits from full manual controls and stabilization, advantageous for low-light creativity.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras shoot Full HD 1080p.

• a3500 supports AVCHD and H.264 with standard frame rates, but no microphone or headphone ports and no stabilization.
• A77 II adds higher frame-rate options (60p), external microphone support, stabilization, and superior codec options (including XAVC S), making it more video production-friendly.

Performance Benchmarks and Ratings

Centralizing all performance elements into scores offers a snapshot of comparative strengths.

The A77 II leads with an impressive overall DxOMark score of 82, benefiting from superior color depth (24.4-bit), dynamic range (13.4 EV), and low-light ISO performance (1013). The a3500 lacks formal DxOMark testing but, based on sensor generation and features, falls notably behind in all key image quality metrics.

Specialized Photography Scores: Where Each Camera Excels

A detailed breakdown across photography types:

• Portrait & Studio: A77 II dominates due to finer color and AF capabilities.
• Sports & Wildlife: A77 II’s rapid burst and hybrid AF provide clear advantages.
• Macro & Close-up: Stabilization and focusing favors the A77 II.
• Landscape: Better sensor and weather-sealing benefit A77 II.
• Street & Travel: a3500’s compactness attractive, but A77 II’s features offer higher versatility with acceptable bulk.
• Low Light & Night: Superior handling by A77 II.

Price-to-Performance and Final Recommendations

Sony a3500 (approx. $398 street price in 2014) is an ideal introduction for users needing a lightweight, affordable mirrorless system to learn basic photography with interchangeable lenses. It serves casual shooters prioritizing simplicity and portability but demands compromises in speed, autofocus, and image quality.

Sony A77 II (approx. $1198 at launch) caters to serious enthusiasts and professionals requiring advanced autofocus technology, higher image quality, stronger build, and extensive customization - including video features and connectivity. Its robust performance supports ambitious wildlife, sports, portrait, and landscape work.

Bottom Line: Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose Sony a3500 if:

  • You’re an entry-level photographer or hobbyist on a limited budget.
  • Lightweight, pocket-friendly mirrorless design appeals.
  • You prioritize simple controls over speed or advanced features.
  • Casual photography, social media sharing, and travel mainly drive your usage.

• Choose Sony A77 II if:

  • You demand fast, accurate autofocus for dynamic subjects.
  • You need higher resolution, superior image quality, and better ISO performance.
  • You shoot professionally or seriously in portraits, sports, wildlife, or landscapes.
  • Video capability with external mic input, articulation, and stabilization matters.
  • You require robust handling, weather resistance, and proven battery life.

Final Thoughts

In essence, Sony’s a3500 and A77 II represent distinct approaches from beginner mirrorless simplicity to advanced DSLR power within the same year of release. While the a3500 is respectable for learning and everyday snapshots, the A77 II’s leap in imaging technology, autofocus, and ergonomic sophistication solidify it as a superior tool for photographers aspiring beyond basics.

Selecting between them boils down to your priorities - portability versus performance, simplicity versus speed, casual versus professional use - with this deep dive equipping you to make that call from an informed technical and experiential standpoint.

Happy shooting!