Sony alpha a3500

Design and ergonomics

Developing the exterior of the camera Sony AlphaA3500, the developers made the main emphasis on compactness and simplicity. Whatever it was, the model looks very solid and rigorous. The case contains a number of buttons for controlling and changing the parameters of the device, as well as connectors for installing the memory and its connection to the computer. The biggest drawback on the case can be called the lack of a rotary display, because there is enough room for its placement. Most likely, this is due to the desire of the manufacturer to reduce the price of the model. On the back of the camera is a three-inch liquid crystal screen. It boasts a good picture and brightness, so it’s pretty enjoyable to view the created pictures on it. Because of the large dimensions, the camera can not be compactly hidden. Despite this, thanks to the handle in his hands, it lies comfortably and does not slip out. Convenience is noted in many customer reviews.

Overall Impression

In summary, it should be noted that the cameraSony Alpha A3500, whose cost in domestic hardware stores is about 15 thousand rubles, is almost the ideal solution for such money. At the same time, in the responses of customers, the fact is noted that the specified price includes a standard lens. The camera is perfect for people who need a reliable device with interchangeable optics, capable of shooting in a professional RAW format, and creating quality videos. The feedback also notes that it has its drawbacks, which are mainly related to the developers’ desire to save money and make the model as accessible as possible. Whatever it was, beginners and semi-professional photographers are unlikely to pay attention to them.

From a DSLR?

Is your DSLR feeling a little bulky? Have you been thinking about looking for a new camera that shoots 4K? Consider the A7R III. The body and housing are smaller, although some of the lenses and dome ports are not necessarily smaller than the DSLR equivalents. The Sony setup will not necessarily be much less expensive either. I would consider the A7R III if:

•You’re tired of looking through a viewfinder underwater

•You want to shoot nice, professional 4K video

•You’re thinking of moving from a cropped sensor DSLR to a full frame

•You want higher resolution images that you can crop down to almost any size

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon D3500 better than the Sony A3000 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D3500:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 19.8MP) with a 10% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor’s full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60i).
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.57x vs 0.47x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 230k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1550 versus 470) on a single battery charge.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 5 years of technical progress since the A3000 launch.

Advantages of the Sony Alpha A3000:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (23 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in August 2013).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D3500 is the clear winner of the match-up (11 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D3500 ₁₁₀₇ A3000

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D3500 and the Sony A3000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D3500 or the A3000. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Underwater Housings for the Sony A7R III

The Sony a7R III is one of the most popular cameras on the market and therefor there are a wide selection of A7R III underwater housing options from multiple underwater housing manufacturers. Polycarbonate brands like Ikelite are very budget friendly but a little more bulky than the competition. Aluminum housing like the Nauticam, Sea & Sea, and Aquatica housings are a little heavier but more compact, rugged, and expensive. 

Does it fit the A7R II Housings?

In order to accommodate for a larger body and more ergonomic controls, the A7RIII is fitted with a 74mm depth body rather than 60mm in the A7R II. Unfortunately, the A7R III is not compatible with A7R II housings.

Nauticam A7R III Housing

In Stock —  $2,850

Nauticam is leading the pack with their excellent Nauticam Sony A7R III housing. A wide range of lenses and ports are supported, but you pay a premium to get this maximum flexibility. Use of the metabones adapter is supported. Along with previous versions of the Nauticam A7 housings, the new housing also supports the use of several Nikonos lenses. Overall, we found the Nauticam housing to be sturdy, safe, and intuitive. All controls are within finger distance of the grips — including rotating dials for aperture and shutter speed adjustment. The housing includes a moisture alarm and can be modified to include a vacuum seal as added protection against a flood. 

In Stock — $1,695

The Ikelite Sony A7R III housing, made of polycarbonate, is a great value at a significantly lower price point than its competitors. Most common lenses are supported as well as the use of the metabones adapter. This housing is also compatible with the Sony A7R III, A7 III, and A9. Their new opaque polycarbonate material is a little lighter and sturdier than older Ikelite housings. There is an optional vacuum pump system for additional protection on the seal. 

In Stock — $3,496

The Sea & Sea Sony A7III and A7R III housing (also known as MDX-A7III housing), has been designed to offer a safe and ergonomic shooting experience. With Sea & Sea’s quality construction this high-end, aluminum housing offers full camera control, features molded grips, glow-in-the-dark buttons, and nice ergonomics for easy control. This housing supports an optional TTL converter and support for the metabones adapter.

In Stock — $2,499

The Aquatica Sony A7R III housing is also compatible with the Sony a7III. It is a machined aluminum housing (i.e., tough and able to withstand the harshest conditions) with a more compact fit than polycarbonate brands. In fact it’s one of the most compact and ergonomic housing on the market. Back button autofocus is fully supported by the housing, and the action on the shutter lever is perfect for half-press autofocus on the shutter. There are multiple bulkhead options for strobe connections including no bulkhead, dual fiber optic cables (includes free flash trigger), dual nikonos type, and one manual Ikelite type.

Marelux Sony A7R III Housing

In Stock —  $2,898

This Marelux Sony A7R III underwater housing is built from high-grade aluminum alloy which provides durability and can withstand even the toughest beatings. Ergonomics are also top-notch, all camera controls are readily available at your fingertips and all buttons are clearly labeled. Thanks to its small size, it is great to travel with. Assembling the housing itself and installing a camera is a breeze with its quick release plate so you can spend more time under the water and less time setting up your gear. With a depth rating of 100m, this housing is an excellent option for both recreational divers as well as technical divers.

Overall impression

Summing up, it should be noted that the Sony Alpha A3500 camera, which costs about 15 thousand rubles in domestic equipment stores, is almost an ideal solution for that kind of money. At the same time, in customer reviews, the fact that the indicated price includes a standard lens is noted. The camera is perfect for people who need a reliable interchangeable lens device that can shoot in professional RAW format and create high-quality videos. The reviews also note that it has its drawbacks, which are mainly related to the desire of developers to save money and make the model as accessible as possible. Be that as it may, novice and semi-professional photographers are unlikely to pay attention to them.

Conclusion

Designed to appeal to compact camera upgraders who instinctively want a DSLR, or at least something that looks like one, the Sony A3000 is an intriguing mix of mirrorless technology and DSLR styling that almost hits the mark. While the image quality is excellent for such a cheap camera, the handling, operation and overall build aren’t quite up to scratch, with the LCD screen and electronic viewfinder in particular proving to be of low-quality. Still, we can’t think of many other £370 / $400 cameras that offer interchangeable lenses, a built-in flash and hotshoe, 60/50i/25p video recording with stereo sound, and that all important DSLR look and feel, so if you can literally overlook the LCD and EVF quality, the Sony A3000 could turn out to be one of the bargains of the year.

Rather than using the 16 megapixel sensor found in most of Sony’s NEX cameras, the A3000 employs the SLT-A58’s 20.1 megapixel sensor. Noise doesn’t rear its ugly head until ISO 3200 for JPEGs, although the A3000 does apply some pretty aggressive noise reduction to keep the files clean, resulting in some loss of finer detail. The myriad range of creative effects on offer such as HDR, Dynamic Range Optimisation, creative styles, the innovative sweep panorama mode and in-camera Picture Effects help to get the most out of the A3000, especially if you like to experiment away from a computer.

While the excellent image quality and keen price are definite plus points, the Sony A3000 lags behind when it comes to handling and performance, especially when compared against the DSLR rivals that it’s trying to emulate. It’s not especially speedy to start-up, and shot-to-shot times and auto-focusing speed, while respectable enough, aren’t anything to write home about, and neither is the lackluster continuous shooting speed. We wouldn’t call it slow, but you’ll be disppointed if you’re expecting DSLR-like responsiveness. And while the A3000 mimics the design and handling of an SLR, it’s not that successful, with the lack of any control dials other than the rear wheel and the inability to quickly switch between the EVF and the LCD screen in particular revealing it to be something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Still, there’s no getting away from that price-tag, which will almost certainly decrease even further, making the Sony A3000 an attractive proposition despite the shortcomings that we’ve identified. While certainly not perfect, this DSLR doppleganger is an intriguing entry into the market that may just prove to be a hit for Sony.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	3.5
Features	3.5
Ease-of-use	3.5
Image quality	4.5
Value for money	5

Price comparison

Sony A3500

Buy used:

€225

Product	Store	Price
	Sony Alpha 7R III Spiegellose Kamera mit…Sony Alpha 7R III Spiegellose Kamera mit 42,4 MP Vollrahmen-Hochauflösender Sensor, Kamera mit Frontend-LSI-Bildprozessor, 4K-HDR-Video und 3-Zoll-LCD-Bildschirm		€2,277
	eTone Lens Adapter For Mamiya 645 To Son…eTone Lens Adapter For Mamiya 645 To Sony E-Mount Camera A7 A7r A3500 A5000 NEX6 VG10		€65
	Flashlight Hot Shoe Cap Protector Protec…Flashlight Hot Shoe Cap Protector Protective Cover for A9 A77II A7riii A7S A3500 A3000 A6000 DSLR Camera Cover		€0.21
	LXH Camera Hot shoe cover Hot shoe Prote…LXH Camera Hot shoe cover Hot shoe Protector Cap For Sony A9/A7/A7RII/A7II/A3500/A6000/A7R NEX-6 RX10III Replace Sony FA-SHC1M		€5.08

Sony SLT-A58

Buy used:

€124

Product	Store	Price
	New LCD Flex Cable Display Cable For SON…New LCD Flex Cable Display Cable For SONY SLT-A58 A58 Digital Camera Repair Part		€3.45
	New LCD Flex Cable LCD Cable Display Cab…New LCD Flex Cable LCD Cable Display Cable For SONY SLT-A58 A58 Digital Camera Repair Part		€3.48
	Eyecup Eye Cup Viewfinder Eyepiece for s…Eyecup Eye Cup Viewfinder Eyepiece for sony FDA-EP12 Replacement SLT-A77V A77 A77V A77II A77M2 A65 A58 A57 Digital Camera		€2.32

This is the complete review of the Sony A7s camera pertaining to video production. Let’s get started.Goals

Before reading and watching the review, it is important to first understand the goals of the review. The primary goal of this review is to say, definitely, whether this camera is an (or the) ideal choice for the following kinds of productions:

• Features films
• Short films
• Corporate videos
• Documentaries – feature length
• Documentaries – short length
• Wedding videos
• Music videos
• Commercials
• Sports
• Wildlife
• ENG/EFP
• Live events

The secondary goals of this review are:

• To understand the place of this camera in the grand scheme of things
• To know exactly what kinds of shots this camera cannot be used for
• To understand the differences in various picture profiles
• To understand the strengths of the camera
• To understand the S-Log2 workflow while shooting and in post production

A final goal of the review is to provide a general overview on the photographic abilities of the camera, with respect to:

• Photojournalism, event and street photography
• Wildlife photography
• Portrait, studio and fashion photography
• Fine art landscape photography
• Macro and product photography

One important thing I’m leaving out: No 4K tests until the Atomos Shogun or similar recorder ships.Why did I buy the Sony A7s?I bought the Sony A7s for the following specific use scenarios and conditions:

• Family, travel and street photography with manual focus
• 12 MP is more than enough for me
• Fully tactile controls in a lightweight body
• Low light photography and videography
• Silent shooting
• Frame guides and IRE for video
• Personal documentary and video projects in 1080p and 4K, without resorting to RAW recording
• To use my existing Nikon manual prime lenses, and not be platform bound
• A backup camera (not B-camera, though that might change) for corporate videos
• A ‘review’ camera for future wolfcrow reviews and videos!

Exclusive Bonus: Download your FREE Blueprint: How to make a movie. A complete visual representation of the filmmaking process from beginning to end.

What gear do I use with the Sony A7s?

Here’s my complete audio-visual kit, minus a few items:

• Sony A7s camera
• Metabones Nikon G to E-mount adapter
• Nikon 50mm f/1.2 manual focus lens
• Nikon 135mm f/2 DC manual/auto focus lens
• Nikon 28mm f/2.8 manual (will replace this with a 24mm f/1.4)
• Original Nikon caps and hoods
• Original Sony batteries x3 and charger
• Hoya Pro1D UV and ND filters to protect all lenses (will be replacing my entire kit with 4×4 filters)
• Benro tripod and 3-way head (will buy a fluid head, either Miller or RRS)
• Tascam DR-60D audio recorder
• Audio Technica ATR-3350 wired lapel mic
• Ahuja wired lapel mic (Indian brand)
• Sennheiser ME66/K6 shotgun system with K-tek windjammer boom kit
• Sennheiser HD 380 Pro headphones
• Thinktank Retrospective 30 bag
• DSC Labs OneShot Pocket Chart
• iPad
• Zeiss cleaning kit and accessories
• Sandisk SD Cards
• Backup camera used for review: Old Canon 550D (T2i) with a dead kit lens
• Editing, grading and finishing: Adobe Creative Cloud
• Resolve 11 Lite to create LUTs and testing
• A ton of DIY lighting

Here’s my immediate wishlist:

• Atomos Shogun Recorder
• Samyang 14mm f/2.8 cine or equivalent
• Samyang 24mm f/1.4 cine or equivalent
• Tiffen 4×4 Glass IRND filter kit with Matte box
• Miller Compass20 fluid head with 3-stage carbon fiber tripod – but what I really want is an O’Connor 1030D!

To know what lenses I recommend, click here.

Should I Upgrade…

From a Compact Camera?

Compact camera users have a very difficult choice when it comes to thinking about upgrades from their set up. There are many nice lines of higher end compacts, more traditional mirrorless cameras, and low to high end DSLRs. Higher end compacts, such as the Sony RX 100 series, result in nice, quality image but they compromise on lack of control or choice of lens. Mirrorless cameras other than the Sony A7 series, like the Olympus OMD and PEN lines, are generally much cheaper than the A7R III and with image quality that is much better than compact series cameras. Olympus has a great selection of micro four-thirds lenses. However, the A7R III’s 35mm full frame sensor is a far cry better than sensors in other mirrorless cameras. A DSLR is also something to consider if you want the best image quality, versatility, and options money can buy. But that comes at a price and size. I would consider the A7R III if: 

•You do not want to compromise on image or video quality

•You are not too price sensitive

•You want to shoot video

•You don’t want to lug a full size DSLR system around

From a Mirrorless Camera?

Photographers using a micro-four thirds or Sony Nex or A6000 series mirrorless camera will be pleasantly surprised by their upgrade to the A7R III. In return for a slightly larger setup, they will experience a noticeable improvement in image quality, video quality, responsiveness and focus speed. The bokeh / background blur from the full-frame sensor will also give an entirely new element to their creative photos and videos. I would consider the A7R IIII if:

•You want higher resolution images that you can crop down to almost any size

•You don’t like using DSLR viewfinders underwater

•You want a little more AF speed

•You want to focus on shooting more video

Best Sony Point-And-Shoot Camera

Sony RX100 VII

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Finding Store

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Finding Store

Travel Photography

7.4

Landscape Photography

7.0

Sport & Wildlife Photography

7.2

Vlogging

7.3

Studio Video

6.8

Action Video

5.2

Body Type

Point and Shoot

Mirrorless

Yes

Sensor Size

1-inch

See all our test results

While smartphones have become the ultimate pocket cameras, there’s something special about a high-quality point-and-shoot. Sony has filled the premium compact camera niche with the Sony RX100 VII. It’s a highly portable camera with a built-in zoom lens, making it an ideal travel camera. Its 24-200mm full-frame equivalent focal length range is versatile for everything from wide-angle shots to close-ups of far-away subjects. Extra features like a pop-up viewfinder and flash are nice additions, too.

While image quality doesn’t compare with larger-sensor cameras, it uses a 1-inch sensor that’s larger than most compact cameras, resulting in great image quality for its class. Its autofocus system is reliable and effective, so you don’t have to worry about missing focus with faster subjects. If you don’t mind losing out on the viewfinder and some zoom range, the vlogging-oriented Sony ZV-1 is a cheaper alternative with a similar 1-inch sensor and the same AF system. Both cameras struggle with battery performance, but point-and-shoots like these are excellent options if you’re looking for something pocketable.

The Sony A7 vs the A7S and A7R

There are technically 3 items in the Sony A7III line, and this article has been mostly speaking about the classic A7III in 2023. The A7SIII and A7RIII are two different specialized versions of the camera, with the A7SIII covering some of the video issues that I talked about above, and the A7RIII having a higher megapixel processor.

Without getting into the technical details, the A7SIII is a great choice if you’re planning to shoot a lot of video and take advantage of that feature. It’s also had some design changes that made the buttons beefier and gave the camera a larger grip. I personally like the style of the classic A7III, but it’s worth holding them both to see if you fall in love with one.

The A7RIII has a higher megapixel count, in fact, it’s almost double what the classic A7III has, but that doesn’t mean that it’s automatically better for you. The megapixel difference only really starts to show up in larger prints – around 20×30 – and it’s not that noticeable until we’re looking at prints of 30×45. If you’re planning on hanging some of your shots on the wall, the A7RIII will be worth it, but if you’re just looking to digitally store your memories, you can stick with the classic A7III for 2023.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider , and richer than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A3000 is 3 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24MP, the D3500 offers a higher
resolution than the A3000 (19.8MP), but the D3500 has smaller individual pixels ( of
3.91μm versus 4.25μm for the A3000). However, the D3500 is a much more recent model (by 5 years) than the A3000, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D3500 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D3500 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the
possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D3500 for good quality output (200 dots per inch)
amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for
excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A3000 are
27.3 x 18.2 inches or 69.3 x 46.1 cm for good quality, 21.8 x 14.5 inches or 55.4 x 36.9 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.1 inches or 46.2 x 30.8 cm for
excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D3500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A3000 are ISO 100 to ISO 16000 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range («DXO Landscape»), color depth («DXO Portrait»), and low-light sensitivity («DXO Sports»). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
1.		Nikon D3500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.0	13.4	1851	83
2.		Sony A3000	APS-C	19.8	5456	3632	1080/60i	23.7	12.8	1068	78
3.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
4.		Fujifilm X-A7	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.1	13.6	1955	84
5.		Fujifilm X-A5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	24.0	13.3	1800	82
6.		Fujifilm X-E3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.9	13.3	1764	82
7.		Nikon D5600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1306	84
8.		Nikon D3400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	13.9	1192	86
9.		Nikon D5500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1438	84
10.		Nikon D3300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.8	1385	82
11.		Nikon D5300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.0	13.9	1338	83
12.		Nikon D3200	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/30p	24.1	13.2	1131	81
13.		Sony A6400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.0	13.6	1431	83
14.		Sony A6000	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	13.1	1347	82
15.		Sony RX1R	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	25.0	13.6	2537	91
16.		Sony NEX-6	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	23.7	13.1	1018	78
17.		Sony NEX-7	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60i	24.1	13.4	1016	81

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the D3500 provides a higher frame rate than the A3000. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60i.