In this article, we’ll be looking into the Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 comparison. The idea is to provide you with enough information on both cameras that you are able to make the right decision.
How do we intend to do that? The features! So, we’ve looked at the features of each camera and compared those of one camera with those of the others.
Doing this helps you see where exactly one camera does better than the other. This way, you can be sure of which camera works for your needs.
That said, we know that you might be in a hurry and cannot exactly go through the entire article. This is why we have put together a comparison overview. This overview contains bite-sized information on the cameras that will help you make a quick decision.
One more thing! You could check out some of our other Sony-Nikon comparisons like the Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500 and the Sony a9 Vs Nikon D850.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – Comparison Overview
The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500 are good cameras in their own right. They both make good cameras for photography with their 24 megapixel of max resolution and built-in flash.
They also make for decent video cameras with their 1920 by 1080 video resolution. However, we consider the Sony a6000 the better camera for photography because of its 11 frames per second continuous shot.
Features Of The Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500
There are a number of features that both cameras have in common and these are features we are really excited about. Some of them include the in-built wireless connection, the ability to be smartphone-controlled, the presence of a viewfinder, and a decent max resolution.
However, there are features that just give one camera an edge over the other. For example, the Sony a6000 does better with continuous shooting (11 frames per second) than the Nikon D3500 (5 frames). It also has an articulating screen and weighs lighter.
On the other hand, the Nikon D3500 has a longer-lasting battery life (1550 shots per charge as against 360) and the difference is really significant. It is up to you to decide which upper-hand is heavy enough to tip the scales.
Not to be a killjoy, but you need to know that neither of these cameras comes with an image stabilization feature or is weather sealed.
Price/Value Ration — Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500
Which is more expensive: Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500?
The Nikon D3500 is more affordable than Sony a6000 but they are not very far apart in the price spectrum.
So, if you are asking if what you get is worth what you pay for, we’ll say yes. But you probably have to find out for yourself, anyway.
About The Brands
Sony
Sony is a Japanese brand that has its fingers in a wide variety of business ventures. The brand has been around long enough to have been able to amass for itself a decent collection of loyal customers.
However, this must have something to do with more than just a length of time in business.
We could probably attribute this loyalty to the fact that Sony engages in a lot of ventures including electronics, gaming, and finance. Or it could have something to do with the fact that Sony pushes out the good stuff.
Whatever the reason is, we’ll have to check out the Sony a6000 to see if it lives up to the Sony hype.
Nikon
Nikon is another Japanese brand but it is a more specific band. We say specifically because Nikon doesn’t engage in so many different ventures. It has stuck to the imaging and optics industry and it is renowned as one of the best
You have probably heard of Nikon before and we doubt you heard about on a negative note. However, the Nikon D3500 will help you form a more solid opinion about the brand.
Now that all that’s settled, let’s check out the comparison table below.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – Comparison Table
Sony a6000 |
Nikon D3500 | |
| Weight | 0.75 pounds | 0.8 pounds |
| Dimensions | 4.7 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches | 4.9 by 3.8 by 2.8 inches |
| Battery Life | 360 shots per charge | 1550 shots per charge |
| Continuous Shooting | 11.0 frames per second (fps) | 5.0 frames per second (fps) |
| Wireless Connection | In-built | In-built |
| Screen Type | Tilting screen | Fixed screen |
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical |
| ISO | 100 – 25600 and can be expanded to 51200 | 100 – 25600 |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 — A Comparison Video
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – Circumstances They are Best Suited For?
Sony a6000 |
Nikon D3500 |
| If you are all about the speed, you want to consider getting this camera. You’ll get a little more than twice the speed of the Nikon D3500. | On the other hand, if you are more for long battery life, consider getting this camera. You’ll get more than twice the battery life of the Sony a6000. |
| Also, the Sony a6000 has an articulating screen which allows you take pictures from different angles. | Also, the Nikon D3500 is the more affordable of the 2 cameras. |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – Common Features
The following are the common features of Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500.
1. Weight
2. Viewfinder
3. Built-in flash
4. Wireless connection
5. Picture Resolution
6. ISO range
1. Weight
Which is lighter: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
The Nikon D3500 is lighter than the Sony a6000. The Nikon D3500 weighs 0.8 pounds while the Sony a6000 weighs 0.75 pounds.
Like basically any device you use or will ever get to use, weight is a very important feature to consider. You want a camera that is the right weight and we say the right weight because that is subjective.
Here is what we mean. We consider a lightweight camera just right because it feels OK when you take shots and it easy to carry around. We like a camera you can lug around without feeling like you are lifting weight.
On the other hand, some people prefer their cameras with a bit of weight. According to them, the weight feels reassuring as they lift it to take their shots. So, you’ll just have to decide what the right weight means to you.
Furthermore, there is more to take into consideration when deciding on the right weight than just the body. The lenses are a very important aspect of taking pictures and they could be heavy too.
Now, both these cameras have a lot of lenses available to them. So we can’t exactly go through all the different lenses checking the weight.
What you do need to know is that both these cameras have the same APS-C size sensor. What this implies is that, for similar aperture and focal length, both cameras will use lenses that are similar in weight and size.
Now, having known this, it is safe to conclude that the Sony a6000 vs the Nikon D3500 (body and lens included) practically weigh the same.
2. Viewfinder
Which Uses a Viewfinder: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500 both make use of viewfinders. The viewfinder is that little screen you look through as you focus on the subject of capture. Some cameras opt for an external viewfinder which would just be extra weight and accessory.
Both these cameras have their viewfinder built-in, though. And just so you know, the viewfinder on the Sony a6000 is electronic while that on the Nikon D3500 is optical.
3. Built-in Flash
Do the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500 have the built-in flash?
The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500 both have the built-in flash.
Now, aside from that basic flash, both cameras have an external flash port where you can attach an external flash to. The difference between this and the one built-in is that the external flash is generally used for more intense stuff like flash photography.
You know how sometimes you want to take a picture and there just isn’t enough light? Sometimes you take the picture anyway and before you even see the outcome you just know it will be terrible.
Well, camera brands (and brands of devices that have the camera feature) came up with a solution and that solution is the flash. You probably already know how that works.
However, not all cameras have this built-in flash. Those that don’t have a port on the camera to which you can attach an external flash.
Thankfully, the cameras in this article have a built-in flash. We say thankfully because we believe that having the built-in flash is just more comfortable, instead of having extra stuff shooting out of the camera body.
4. Wireless Connection
Which camera allows wireless connection: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
Both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500 have an in-built wireless connection. That is, you don’t need to get a special something so that your camera can gain access to the internet. You basically just need your camera and good enough Wi-Fi.
Seeing as the world is more digital than not, brands are increasingly trying to outdo themselves and one another to create devices that have even better internet access. And if the Sony a6000 vs the Nikon D3500 are anything to go by, both cameras are not left out.
Since we are still on the topic of connection and connectivity, let’s talk about how both cameras can be smartphone operated.
So, if you get the right app, you can connect your smartphone to either of the Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500, such that your smartphone can be your control console. The screen of your smartphone could be your viewfinder while you tap away at said screen to capture images. Convenient, isn’t it?
5. Picture Resolution
What is the picture resolution of Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500?
The picture resolution of the Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500 is 24-megapixel. Now, this is pretty good for 2 semi-pro cameras. So, whichever camera you eventually decide to go with, you can be rest assured that the photo outcome will be very well detailed.
If you are concerned about the final outcome (as we all probably are), this is one of the things you need to check out. The picture resolution in megapixels tells us how detailed the photo outcome will look.
6. ISO Range
What is the ISO range of the Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500?
The ISO range of the Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500 is between 100 and 25600. However, the ISO range of the Sony a6000 can be expanded to 51200. The ISO basically just tells you in numbers how sensitive the camera is to light. Hence, the higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the camera is to light. However, we do concede that the Sony a6000 does it better than the Nikon D3500.
Just in case you wanted to ask, more sensitivity is probably the better idea. We say probably, not because we aren’t sure but because it has its downside. We’ll explain.
A high ISO allows your camera to capture light better without necessarily reducing shutter speed. Now while this is a really good thing, you have to know the attendant issue.
Now, when your camera is set to a high ISO, the camera basically increases its light signal to better capture light. However, in this process, it also picks up some other environmental factors which show as more grains in your picture.
That said, it is always a nice thing to have a wide enough ISO range so that the camera operator has room to adjust the ISO depending on the setting. Now, both these cameras do not have the most impressive ISO range.
Nonetheless, depending on what you need the camera for, you might actually find the ISO range quite satisfactory for you.
7. RAW Support
RAW is basically a format in which the picture taken is stored. The other format is jpeg and that format tends to reduce the quality of picture shot in order to save it. This way, it saves space.
On the other hand, the RAW format saves the photos shot in their original quality. You need to know, however, that this format tends to take up a bit of space.
Nonetheless, seeing as you can quickly send files to a different device, we don’t think space would be such a huge problem. And good picture quality is definitely worth it.
8. Face Detection
Which has the face detection feature: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
Both the Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500 have the face detection feature that helps the camera focus on a face when it detects one. The cameras are basically able to hold and focus on a detected face making them really good cameras for taking a portrait.
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Video: Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 — A Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500
If you prefer learning by video, you can watch this video.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – Unique Features
The following unique features are common to both Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500:
1. Screen
2. Continous shooting
3. Battery life
4. Memory card support
5. Near field connection
6. Available lenses.
1. Screen
Which has a larger screen: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
The Sony a6000 and Nikon D3500 both have a 30-inch screen which is pretty OK for the size of a camera.
That said, the Sony a6000 has an articulating screen. When we say a screen is articulating we basically mean that the screen can be moved independently of the camera body.
There are basically 2 kinds of articulating screen; there is the partial kind (tilt screen) and the fully articulating screen. The tilt screen can basically be tilted upward and/or down while the fully articulating screen can be moved in all directions.
Furthermore, the Sony a6000 has a tilt screen while the Nikon D3500 has a fixed screen. We think the tilt screen is a better idea than the fixed screen because it allows you to capture photos from angles that a fixed screen won’t allow for.
2. Continuous Shooting
Which camera takes faster shots: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
The Sony a6000 takes faster shots than the Nikon D3500. The Sony a6000 can take 11 frames per second (fps) while the Nikon D3500 can only take 5 frames per second (fps).
From the foregoing, you can see that the Nikon D3500 offers a little less than half the speed that the Sony a6000 does. And we really think that could be the difference between the camera we want and the camera we get.
When we talk about continuous shooting, we are actually referring to how quickly a camera can take shots, that is, how fast the camera is.
If you intend to use the camera for something more professional than random family gatherings, you’ll come to understand the essence of speed.
3. Battery Life
Which has longer battery life: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
The Nikon D3500 offers 1190 more shots with a single charge more than the Sony a6000 which is really impressive. Additionally, the Nikon D3500 is a DSLR, so we wouldn’t have expected any less.
The Nikon D3500 has the upper hand over the Sony a6000. The Sony a6000 is a mirrorless camera, so its battery life doesn’t really come as a shock to us.
Now, to determine the battery life of a camera, we look to how many shots the camera can squeeze into 1 charge. For the Sony a6000, you can get 360 shots with 1 charge. On the other hand, the Nikon D3500 offers 1550 shots with 1 charge.
4. Memory Card Support
Which has the memory card support feature: Sony a6000 or Nikon D3500?
The Sony a6000 supports the use of an Ultra High-Speed memory card.
Shots taken with a camera have to be stored somewhere and that is where the memory card comes in. Like basically every digital camera, both these cameras support the use of a memory card.
However, there are different kinds of memory cards and the kind we are more interested in here is the Ultra-High-Speed memory card. The Ultra High Speed (UHS) memory card allows for quick transfer of files to storage.
5. Near Field Connection
A camera that is NFC (Near Field Connection) enabled is able to connect with other devices that are also NFC enabled. You just have to make sure that the camera and the device to be connected with are within close range.
The NFC allows for quick transfer of files from device to device even without an internet connection. And of the 2 cameras in this review, only the Sony a6000 is NFC enabled.
However, the Nikon D3500 does come with a Bluetooth feature with which you can connect the camera to another device and share stuff to your heart’s content.
6. Available Lenses
What are the available lenses in the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D35000?
The Sony a6000 has 102 different lenses available with it for different purposes. On the other hand, the Nikon D3500 has 302 lenses available to it.
We already mentioned the lenses when we talked about both cameras having the same weight. However, we are not talking about weight here but about how many lenses each camera has available to it.
Additionally, neither the Sony a6000 nor the Nikon D3500 comes with an image stabilization feature. As a result, there is a possibility of the picture coming out burry if it was taken with the camera in motion.
To counteract that, you’ll need to get optical stabilization lenses for situations when you’ll be moving the camera a lot. The Sony a6000 has 23 of those lenses available while the Nikon D3500 has 88 of those lenses.
Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D3500 – Unique Pros
Pros Of The Sony a6000
- The Sony a6000 takes 11 frames per second vs the Nikon D3500 which takes only 5 per second. This makes the Sony a6000 the faster of the 2 cameras.
- Furthermore, the Sony a6000 supports the use of an Ultra High-Speed memory card which allows for quick storage.
- The Sony a6000 is also NFC enabled which allows it to connect to other NFC enabled devices. Through this, files can be sent from device to device.
- We also like the articulating screen idea. With this feature, you can take pictures from some ridiculous angles that a fixed screen cannot afford and you can do that without having to move the camera body.
- Also, the viewfinder of the Sony a6000 has a 100% coverage as against that of the Nikon D3500 which has 95% coverage. 95% isn’t bad but 100% is always better.
Pros Of The Nikon D3500
- First off, the Nikon D3500 is the more affordable of the 2 cameras.
- Furthermore, the Nikon D3500 has longer battery life. You can get 1190 more shots per charge with the Nikon D3500 than you can get with the Sony a6000.
- Allow us also to point out that the in-built flash of the Nikon D3500 has a 1-meter longer range than the Sony a6000.
- And of course, we cannot forget that the Nikon D3500 has more lenses available with it than the Sony a6000; the regular kind and the optical stabilization kind.
Video: Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D3500
This video reviews the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500.
Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D3500 – Unique Cons
Cons Of The Sony a6000
- The battery life of the Sony a6000 isn’t the most impressive. You’ll get 1190 more shots per charge with the Nikon D3500 than you can get with the Sony a6000.
Cons Of The Nikon D3500
- The Nikon D3500 isn’t the fastest camera out there. In fact, you’ll get less than half the speed of the Sony a6000 with the Nikon D3500.
- Also, a fixed screen (which the Nikon D3500 has) is not as flexible as an articulating screen. As a result, you won’t be able to capture subjects from certain ridiculous angles.
Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D3500 – Common Pros
Sony a6000 |
Nikon D3500 | |
| Viewfinder | The Sony a6000 comes with an electronic viewfinder as against some cameras with which you have to rely on the LCD screen alone. | Same as the Sony a6000. However, the Nikon D3500 comes with an optical viewfinder. |
| RAW Support | The Sony a6000 also supports the RAW format. Which translates into files being stored in their original quality instead being dumbed down to save space. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
| Picture Resolution | We like that the Sony a6000 offers 24 megapixels picture resolution. This way, you can be sure that your pictures will be in more detail. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
| Smartphone Control | We also like that the Sony a6000 can be smartphone controlled. All you need do is download the appropriate app, connect the camera to the smartphone and you’re set. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
| Flash | The Sony a6000 has a flash built into it that will come in handy when you want to take pictures in low light. It also has an external flash port to which you can attach an external flash for more intense stuff like flash photography. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
| Wireless Connection | The Sony a6000 has a built in wireless connection for internet access. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D3500 – Common Cons
The following are the common cons of the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3500.
Sony a6000 |
Nikon D3500 | |
| Image Stabilization | The Sony a6000 doesn’t have any built-in feature that stabilizes the images. As a result, there is a possibility that pictures taken while the camera is in motion could end up blurry. However, you can get one of the Sony a6000 optical stabilization lenses. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
| Environmental Protection | Also, the Sony a6000 doesn’t have any feature that protects it against the elements. This already puts a restriction on the times and places you can make use of the camera. | Same as the Sony a6000. |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – What Do People Think About Both?
Sony a6000 |
Nikon D3500 |
| People seem to really like the Sony a6000 for a number of reasons. First off, people seem to think that the camera does a lot for a camera of its size and cost. The speed of the camera is another thing that a lot of people praise about the Sony a6000. Then there is the fact that the camera allows for wireless connection to the internet and to other devices. | A good number of people seem to agree that the Nikon D3500 is a good middle ground between some earlier Nikon cameras and the earlier ones. It has the right blend of being lightweight, easy to be interacted with, and satisfactorily long battery life. |
| Some people have a couple of not so great things to say about the camera, though. Like the fact that the battery isn’t very long lasting. Also, the fact that the Sony a6000 is not compatible with a good number of lenses from other manufacturers is an issue. | However, the speed seems to be an issue for some people. Also, the lack of any feature that will protect the camera against the elements seems to be a problem. |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 – Our Thoughts
Sony a6000 |
Nikon D3500 |
| One of the things that really excites us about the Sony a6000 is the speed of the thing. The camera can take 11 frames in just 1 second. We also like the fact that the camera has a wireless connection to the internet and can also connect wirelessly to other devices. | The primary reason we like the Nikon D3500 is the battery. Really, this camera has a nice battery life. Of course, we like other things like how the camera comes with an inbuilt wireless connection and so many compatible lenses. |
| Granted, there are a few hiccups here and there but nothing an extra battery or the right lens can’t fix. Get the Sony a6000 now! | The not so good parts are things that are workable, especially if you don’t have intentions of using this camera for professional photography. Get the Nikon D3500! |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3500 — Related FAQs
Is Nikon d3500 good for beginners?
Nikon D3500 camera is the best camera for beginners because of its user-friendly features. This camera is very portable and provides you with better features for the value of your money. The feature that made this camera an upgrade from D3400 is the size. Ironically, this doesn’t affect the functionalities as there are other essential parts that make the images noiseless.
In terms of speed and weight, it also gives the beginner an inkling of what the photography world looks like as it has four processors.
Is the Nikon D3500 good for night photography?
The Nikon D3500 is good for night photography. When you are new in astrophotography, the camera you should buy is Nikon D3500 because it has the ability to capture outstanding night pictures when you are using it with the proper lens. For you to be successful in capturing quality images in astrophotography, you have to work with cameras that are very good. Cameras embedded in smartphones, shoot, and point but do not possess the features needed for capturing images at night.
Does D3500 have WiFi?
The Nikon D3500 does not have the Wi-Fi feature. This means that most of the SnapBridge features that you will see in most Nikon cameras will function differently or may not be compatible with Nikon D3500. SnapBridge ver. 2.5 app helps cameras to connect and transfer images through Bluetooth. Bluetooth and SnapBridge applications foster the connection between smartphones and the DSLR camera. Apart from the connection, Bluetooth and SnapBridge applications can also upload photos automatically to Nikon image space, a service that is for photo sharing.
What lenses work with Sony a6000?
The following are the lenses that work with A6000:
Kit Lenses for the Sony a6000
Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 0
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS
All-In-One Lenses
Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS
Wide-Angle Lenses
Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS
Mid-Range and Portrait Lenses
Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 OSS
Sigma 19mm f/2.8
Sony 35mm f/1.8
Sony 50mm f/1.8
Sigma 60mm f/2.8
Telephoto Lenses
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS
The a6000 is the latest range of mirrorless cameras manufactured by Sony and they are desired by many people because of their high image quality and small size.
How do I charge my Sony a6000?
To charge your Sony a6000, you have to switch off the camera. After this, attach the camera to the battery pack with a USB cable and plug the AC adaptor to your wall socket.
The camera charging lamp will come up. When the lamp is off, it means that charging is finished, lit flashing means charging is paused because the DSLR camera is at the wrong temperature range or charging error.
It takes approximately three hundred and ten minutes to charge the battery but this is depending on the capacity of the battery pack.
How do I connect my Sony a6000 to my TV?
To connect the Sony a6000 to the TV set, turn on the Wi-Fi setting of your TV. Now turn to the camera and press the menu button on the camera and select view on TV. This step is not the same in all models as you have to choose the playback and view on TV option in older models.
You have to give the camera some seconds to discover and show the nearest devices including the TV.
You have to select the TV from the number of available devices.
The pictures stored in the camera will be shown to you when you are pressing the left or right arrow.
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