These are the first images and full specs of the new Sony A3500 which replaces the current Sony A3000. It will come with a new Sony 18-50mm f/4.0-5.6 lens. Thanks MdB for sharing the info!
System
| Camera Type | Interchangeable lens digital camera with built-in flash |
|---|
| Lens Compatibility | Sony E-mount lenses |
|---|
Image Sensor
| Type | APS-C type (23.2 x 15.4mm), “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor |
|---|
| Effective no. of Pixels | Approx. 20.1 mega pixels |
|---|
| Total no. of Pixels | Approx. 20.4 mega pixels |
|---|
| Anti-Dust System | Charge protection coating on, Optical Filter |
|---|
Recording System (Still Image)
| Recording Format | JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format) |
|---|
| Image Size (Aspect Ratio 3:2) | L: 5456 x 3632(20M), M: 3872×2576(10M), S: 2736×1824(5M) |
|---|
| Image Size (Aspect Ratio 16:9) | L: 5456×3064(17M), M: 3872×2176(8.4M), S:2736×1536(4.2M) |
|---|
| Image Quality Modes | RAW & JPEG, JPEG Fine, JPEG Standard |
|---|
| Picture Effects | Posterization (Color, B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R,G,B,Y), High Contrast Mono, Toy Camera, Soft High-key, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Mono, Miniature |
|---|
| Creative Style | Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, B/W (Contrast (-3 to +3steps), Saturation(-3 to +3steps), Sharpness(-3 to +3steps)) |
|---|
| Dynamic Range | Off, Dynamic Range Optimizer (Auto/Level), Auto High Dynamic Range: Off, Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1.0-6.0EV, 1.0EV step) |
|---|
| Color Space | sRGB standard (with sYCC gamut) and Adobe RGB standard compatible with TRILUMINOS™ Color |
|---|
Recording System (Movie)
| Recording Format | AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant, MP4 |
|---|
| Video Compression | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 |
|---|
| Audio Recording Format | Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2ch, MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch |
|---|
Recording Media
| Memory Stick | Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick XC-HG Duo |
|---|
| SD Memory Card | SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC memory card |
|---|
Noise Reduction
| Long exposure NR | Available of shutter speeds longer than 1 sec. |
|---|
| High ISO NR | Normal/Low |
|---|
White Balance
| Modes | Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, C.Tem , C.Filter , Custom |
|---|
Focus System
| Type | Contrast-detection AF*1 |
|---|
| Sensitivity Range | EV0 to EV20 (ISO100 equivalent with F2.8 lens attached) |
|---|
| Focus Modes | Autofocus, DMF (Direct Manual Focus)*2 , Manual Focus*2 |
|---|
| Autofocus Mode | AF-S: Single-shot AF, AF-C: Continuous AF |
|---|
| Focus Area | Multi Point (25 points) / Center-weighted / Flexible Spot |
|---|
| Other Features | Tracking Focus, Focus lock, Built-in AF illuminator (Distance: approx. 0.5-3.0m (with E 18-50mm F4-5.6 lens attached)) |
|---|
Exposure Control
| Metering System Type | 1200-zone evaluative metering |
|---|
| Sensitivity Range | EV0 to EV20 (at ISO100 equivalent with F2.8 lens attached) |
|---|
| Metering Modes | Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot |
|---|
| Exposure Modes | iAUTO, Superior Auto, Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter-speed priority (S), Manual (M), Sweep Panorama, Scene Selection |
|---|
| Scene Selection | Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports action, Sunset, Night portrait, Night view, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur |
|---|
| Exposure Compensation | Still images: +/- 3.0EV (1/3EV steps), Movies: +/- 2.0EV (1/3EV steps) |
|---|
| Exposure Bracketing | With 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2, 3EV increments, 3frames |
|---|
| AE Lock | AE is locked when the shutter button is half pressed (ON/OFF is available in MENU) |
|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | Still images: ISO100 to 16000, AUTO (ISO100 to 3200), Movies:ISO100 to 3200 equivalent, AUTO(ISO100 to 3200 equivalent) |
|---|
LCD
| LCD Monitor Type | 7.5cm (3.0-type) wide type TFT |
|---|
| Total no. of Dots | 230,400 dots |
|---|
| Brightness Control | Manual (5 steps between -2 and +2), Sunny Weather mode |
|---|
Display
| Histogram | Yes |
|---|
| Real-time Image Adjustment | On/Off |
|---|
Other Features
| Face Detection | Up to 8 faces detectable automatically |
|---|
| Smile Shutter | Selectable from 3 steps |
|---|
| MF Assist | Yes |
|---|
| Shooting Tips | Yes |
|---|
| Help Guide | Yes |
|---|
Shutter
| Type | Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type |
|---|
| Shutter Speeds | Still images:1/4000 to 30 sec, Bulb, Movies: 1/4000 to 1/4(1/3 steps), up to 1/30 in AUTO mode |
|---|
| Flash Sync. Speed | 1/160 sec.*3 |
|---|
Viewfinder
| Type | 0.5cm (0.2type) electronic viewfinder(color) |
|---|
| Field of View | 100% |
|---|
| Magnification | Approx. 0.70x with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m |
|---|
| Eye Relief | Approx. 21mm from the eyepiece, 15mm from the eyepiece frame at -1m |
|---|
| Diopter Control | -4m to +3.5m |
|---|
Drive
| Shooting Modes | Single Shooting, Continuous shooting, Speed Priority Continuous shooting, Self-timer (10/2 sec delay selectable), Self-timer (Cont.)(with 10 sec delay 3 exposures), Bracketing |
|---|
| Self-Timer | 10/2 sec delay selectable, 10 sec delay 3 exposures |
|---|
| Continuous Shooting (Approx.) | Continuous mode:max. 2.5 fps*5, Speed Priority Continuous shooting: max. 3.5 fps*5 |
|---|
| No. of Frame Recordable (Approx.) | Fine: 6 frames*5 *6, Standard: 6 frames*5*6, RAW&JPG: 4 frames *5 *6 |
|---|
Playback
| Single | Yes (with or without shooting information RGB histogram & highlight/shadow warning) |
|---|
| 6/12-frame Index View | Yes |
|---|
| Enlarged Display Mode | L: 15.1x, M: 10.7x, S: 7.6x, Panorama (Standard): 19x, Panorama (Wide): 29x |
|---|
| Image Orientation | On/Off selectable |
|---|
| Slideshow | Yes |
|---|
Interface
| PC Interface | Multi/Micro USB Terminal, Hi-speed USB (USB2.0): Mass-storage, MTP |
|---|
| Compatible OS (USB Connection) | Windows Vista*7 SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Mac OS X (v10.6-v10.9) |
|---|
Audio
| Microphone | Built-in stereo microphone |
|---|
| Speaker | Built-in, monaural, Volume settings in 8 steps between 0 and 7 |
|---|
Flash
| Type | Built-in flash |
|---|
| Guide No. | 4 (in meters at ISO 100) |
|---|
| Flash Coverage | 16mm (focal-length printed on the lens body) |
|---|
| Control | Pre-flash TTL |
|---|
| Flash Compensation | +/- 2.0EV (1/3EV steps) |
|---|
| Flash Modes | Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction (on/off selectable), Hi-speed sync.*4 |
|---|
| Red-eye Reduction | On/Off selectable |
|---|
| Recycling Time | Approx. 4 sec. |
|---|
Print
| Compatible Standards | Exif Prin, Print Image Matching III, DPOF setting |
|---|
Power
| Battery | One rechargeable battery pack NP-FW50 |
|---|
| Battery Performance | Still Image: (Approx. 470 images(Viewfinder), Approx. 480 images(LCD screen)(CIPA standard))*8 |
|---|
| Movies(actual recording): (Approx. 90 minutes(Viewfinder), Approx 90 minutes(LCD screen) (CIPA standard) )*9 *10, Movies(continuous recording): (Approx. 160 minutes(Viewfinder), Approx 160 minutes(LCD screen)(CIPA standard))*9 *11 |
| External Power | AC Adaptor AC-PW20 (sold separately) |
|---|
Size
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 128 x 90.9 x 84.5 mm |
|---|
| Weight (Body Only) | Approx. 353 g |
|---|
| Weight (With Battery & Memory Stick PRO Duo) | Approx. 411 g |
|---|
Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
*1 When using phase-detection AF, limited lenses will be compatible initially. Expansion is planned by body firmware update.
*2 Only with lens sold separately
*3 With compatible Sony external flash
*4 With compatible external flash
*5 Varies according to shooting conditions or memory card used
*6 Continuous drive (Hi) in Drive mode
*7 Starter Edition is not supported.
*8 The LCD screen is turned on, shot once every 30 seconds, operate zoom alternately between W and T ends, flash strobe once every two times, turn power off and on once every ten times.
*9 Continuous movie recording is possible for approximately 29 minutes (limited by product specifications).
*10 Indication recording time, which is defined by repeating the cycle: Power on, start recording, zoom , stand-by and power off.
*11 The total movie recording time. When the limit of the continuous movie recording time (29 minutes) is reached, let the camera continue movie recording by pressing the MOVIE button again. No other operation such as zoom are performed.
*1 When using phase-detection AF, limited lenses will be compatible initially. Expansion is planned by body firmware update.
*2 Only with lens sold separately
*3 With compatible Sony external flash
*4 With compatible external flash
*5 Varies according to shooting conditions or memory card used
*6 Continuous drive (Hi) in Drive mode
*7 Starter Edition is not supported.
*8 The LCD screen is turned on, shot once every 30 seconds, operate zoom alternately between W and T ends, flash strobe once every two times, turn power off and on once every ten times.
*9 Continuous movie recording is possible for approximately 29 minutes (limited by product specifications).
*10 Indication recording time, which is defined by repeating the cycle: Power on, start recording, zoom , stand-by and power off.
*11 The total movie recording time. When the limit of the continuous movie recording time (29 minutes) is reached, let the camera continue movie recording by pressing the MOVIE button again. No other operation such as zoom are performed.
0 Responses
4 – 5.6 lens, slower then the current kit lens :#
And no OSS.
Ouch!
f3.5 to f4. Nothing that is noticeable enough.
No OSS is a bummer though. I just hope that its better at the wide end than the current one. Otherwise it will be a completely worthless POS.
Just buy the body if you need it.
Yeah, MdB was right; this IS lame.
With even a slower kit lens? OMG!
Maybe to keep the price below $400?
Oh and I can’t see one thing that has changed apart from the lame new kit lens (no OSS, slower and no focus ring!). I guess probably new menus. Prices go back up because it is ‘new’. Bah! If you were thinking of getting an a3000 (I doubt many here were) now would be the time to do it.
The lens seems to be AF only – see:
“Focus ModesAutofocus, DMF (Direct Manual Focus)*2 , Manual Focus*2”
and the relating footnote:
“*2 Only with lens sold separately”
So manual focus only with other lenses.
As point-and-shoot as it gets.
It also looks different to any E-Mount lens I have seen… Looks ‘plastic’ without the metal finish (foil whatever it is). It is also bigger than the older, faster OSS, dual ringed 18-55mm. Those black 18-55’s on the original a3000 (only otherwise sold with the NEX-7) will become collectors pieces! 😉
Considering that those were pretty horrible at wide end and nothing to rave about at every other zoom setting, I doubt they will become collector pieces. They’ll just fade into history, just like any other crappy kit lens.
I hope this one is any good, but with the latest run of E-Mount zoom lens quality, i’m not holding my breath.
I was really hoping for some cheap NEX3N with a kit lens, as a backup to my A65 or when I can’t haul all the gear with me. Looks like I might just have to go with a powerzoom 16-50, or a used RX100 and be done with it.
seems like faster AF is probably the only real difference? Assuming it’s getting the same tech as the a6000
It is contrast only, not the same sensor and no on sensor PDAF. So no, nothing like the a6000 (though the new lens may focus faster than before).
Look at the footnote
“*1 When using phase-detection AF, limited lenses will be compatible initially. Expansion is planned by body firmware update.”
Look what note 1 pertains to. It says contrast only, I think the footnote is copied and pasted from another model.
OMG! Sony has more cameras than lenses!. Did they kick out the lens designers
No, Sony have actualy 16 camera and ~40 lenses…
40 lenses that never work on a single system unless you’re willing to use an unstabilized telephoto lens on a non IBIS system?
Well this comes with a new lens, so that’s 1 new camera and 1 new lens…. Mightn’t be the lens you want, but it is still a lens.
So something like A5500 combo of current NEX 5T with touch screen and A6000 af speed is possible? Hope it’s possible… Otherwise no chance to stay with current and future cameras… A lot cameras and no new lenses
its possible, but the question is whether or not Sony will actually make it
Is there any market for this?
I guess so, they wouldn’t be doing another one if there wasn’t. Not going to appeal to internet enthusiasts, but it isn’t a ‘bad’ camera. Lately the a3000 has been around $249, that is a LOT of camera for the money. This new one is the same, with cheaper kit lens, so I guess Sony decided that the discounting necessary was unsustainable with the old kit lens.
Not 3100 ?
sony never learn how to name the cameras
soon they will run out of model numbers again
we could see 5 digit model coming
I’m having a hard time trying to understand why they’re releasing another a3xxx model, a new kit lens with slower aperture, less range, made with a plastic body and without OSS (with a camera without IBIS).
One word: Price. Or more to it: Cost.
What a crappy body it is.
Which part of cheap camera don’t you get? What do you expect from an ILC camera with such a great performing sensor at this price? ffs….
They should come out with a weatherproof DSLR style body with the A6000 AF, EVF etc with 4K mode like the GH4.
Yeah yeah yeah, but that was never going to be THIS body now was it? I mean the a3000 sells on sale for $250… Would you expect ANY of those features at that price point?
I never said anything about this entry level A3500 camera, I have the GH4 on pre-order since I already have the GH1 and GH2 along with 4 MFT lenses like the 25mm F0.95 Nokton. I guess Sony does not want to compete with the $1,700 4K GH4 since it might hurt sales of the $8,000 4K FS700R.
In fairness to Sony, they apparently tried to go 4k with the a7/a7r (based on a reviewer saying he talked to Sony engineers) but they ran into overheat problems. That would have left them with a fairly impressive pair of 4k bodies in that price range.
We know Sony is hot to push further into 4k and rumor has it we’ll see a 4k body (or bodies) later this year. Given the a7/a7r example, it’s reasonable to expect consumer pricing. I don’t think it’s reasonable to think Sony won’t compete with other manufacturers out of fear of hurting sales of a high-priced, low-volume professional camera.
No Improvement for the body. bad
…and this new lens is better than the old two kit lenses how? Or are they discontinuing them and selling a crappier one for the same price?
No wonder they released this without fanfare. Ugh. Maybe they will push these at supermarkets and WalMart to unsuspecting casuals
‘Unsuspecting casuals’ would do well to pick one of these up compared to a similarly priced compact or bridge camera.
Sony are the only ones bothering to tackle this market with something that is a) cheap and b) surprisingly good in terms of output.
Not everyone wants or needs all the controls, EVF, WiFi etc of high end cameras.
No, they will not interest enthusiasts.
Unsuspecting casuals are better off getting the Panasonic G5 with little worse IQ and much better AF, EVF, controls and a stabilization mechanism. Or actually, even a compact like the original RX100 which will probably be closely priced.
Unless the starting price of this piece of shit is below 300$ there’s no point. Anything above and there are enough cameras with much higher usability and similar IQ.
Where I am there is nothing close. RX100 will set you back $500+ on sale and G5 the same. The a3000 was going for $248 including OSS lens, less than 2 months after launch from memory. No idea where this will go to be honest, but there is nothing with the kind of IQ bang for buck as the a3000 was (not that I have one). Best you could do was an E-PL3 for similar money with the horrible old 12MP panny sensor, no VF, no built in flash, awful IBIS with no OIS etc.
I have only seen the AU price, it is possible as the AU prices have been rising compared to US prices, that the RRP will be lower than the a3000 was, which could mean we see these sub $200.
Ok, in Europe there is about 100EUR between those right now (300 vs a little below 400 for G5, a little above 400 for RX100) but the A3000 launch price was actually 400EUR. If the starting price is again 400EUR, in Europe they would pretty much be in the same price bracket.
Actually, throw in the G3 which isn’t even much worse than the G5. A kit goes for less than the an A3000 kit (at least in Europe but I guess also everywhere else), again with much better features in everything except for IQ.
Except that you can upgrade from the A3500 to an NEX-7 or even A7 where you can do nothing with an panasonic g5
With a G5 you can buy into the m43 system, don’t see your point. The IQ of m43 cameras is worse but it’s still good enough for most casuals. Added to that, the cameras are much more mature in terms of controls and responsiveness.
Also, I bet 5$ you won’t find a single person upgrading from this to an A7. Or do you seriously think anyone would use that shitty kit lens on an A7 in crop mode? Or buy FE lens for this shitty body so you can upgrade to FE? All of that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
It’s the typical aspirational camera for the beginner. Most will end up in the closet shortly after purchase. Some small percentage will get the bug and move up the line. The a7/a7r probably won’t be around long enough to fit into any a3500 beginner’s upgrade timeline. Heck, they could forego Sony altogether for another manufacturer since they have little skin in the Sony game.
Upgrade? With what and for what? So you can keep a catastrophically bad kit lens? Like you keep the crappy lens and buy a better body one day?
I think you are projecting your need on to the target group.
“… with little worse IQ and much better AF, EVF, controls and a stabilization mechanism.”
These buyers just want good IQ, without fiddeling with controls and all that technical stuff.
You forgot the most important feature the target group wants: it looks like a DSLR…
Typical US style camera! WalMart right. Don’t bring it to Europe.
I hope folks from the US do not take offense at this. I think you are correct. The size, weight (body and the lens) and the looks are just about right. 🙂 It should sell well over there. 🙂
I’ve handled the a3000 at a local Target. Despite looking like a DSLR – a fact that causes e-mount fans to immediately fill their diapers (not directed at you) – it is neither big nor heavy (not really a pocket camera, though). It reminds me a lot of superzooms which tend to be DSLR look-alikes as well. I once owned a Linux superzoom and had the a3000 been around at the time probably would opted for it. Same price, better specs (except zoom range, of course), and more versatile.
If that’d happened that would have put in me the e-mount camp versus the a-mount one with my a65. Hmmmmmmm….. ;^)
I have to assume you leave in Europe and know a lot about Walmart, or is it the other way around?
Too bad its being marketed to Australia exclusively atm…
super close to US right?
Having travelled extensively throughout Europe (and living there) – I didn’t see everyone shooting with Leica, Zeiss & Hassleblads – mostly P&S, Canon dSLRs & phone cameras. I have not been to Japan, but I do expect to see the greatest density of high end gear amongst average people based on the tourists I see in NY.
P&S yes and iPone yes but A3500 NO!
What is the difference between this and the A3000? The only difference I could find is a slightly improved battery life (470 instead of 460 with viewfinder). I can’t find any other differences.
It ‘may’ have the new menus. But other than that it is a rebadge job with cheaper kit lens.
Okay. Thanks!
According to the specs it has a smaller buffer. The α3500 takes only bursts of 6 frames in continuous mode where the α3000 could take 13 or even 30 (depending on JPEG quality).
This camera makes ZERO sense. None at all… The A3000 sales were catastrophic, and sales for this one won’t be any better. Sony doesn’t seem to learn
where did you get that; sales were catastrophic? The a3000 is a very good seller, but the market targeted is not enthusiast like people on this forum, but customers who will stick to the kit lens and won’t build a system.
Exactly.
Were they? Do you have some sales figures on them that you can share? Or are you going off ‘I didn’t buy one and the internet forums I visit people didn’t buy them there either, so sales MUST have been catastrophic’?
Can you give me the copy of the financial report of Sony where you seen that sales for A3000 have been “catastrophic”
If sales were catastrophic, they wouldn’t replace it with a new model. They would just discontinue the line and try something else instead.
No specific figures, just various reports from every usual photo boards, and also consequent price drops only weeks within release, go to prove that the camera was not successful. Check out prices for the RX100, they have hardly dropped at all, at least not significantly at all, THAT’s a successful model for Sony.
Or they introduced the camera with a higher price tag intentionally so they can temp the average joe with big savings and discounts…
slower lens, no OSS, shorter range but bigger filter size? sony what are u thinking
*looks like no focus ring too
because “cheaper” most likely? the 3000s series have always been the super budget line….
Exciting new lens for the system! Hooray! Exactly what I was hoping for!
Sarcasm alert! ;^)
I can’t find any changes in specifications, only lens. Are there any?
According to the specs it has a smaller buffer. The α3500 takes only
bursts of 6 frames in continuous mode where the α3000 could take 13 or
even 30 (depending on JPEG quality).
And regarding the new lens, note the footnote “Manual Focus – *2 Only with lens sold separately”. Apparently they even cut down on the focus ring on the lens and made it AF only.
Actually, manual focusing on ALL e-mount lenses is inconvenient anyway.
Hi Folks!
What is this:
Continuous mode:max. 2.5 fps
Speed Priority Continuous shooting: max. 3.5 fps
No. of Frame Recordable (Approx.)
Fine: 6 Frames
Standard: 6 frames
RAW&JPG: 4 frames
Hey SONY – do you buy old Nikon cameras and put your label on this thing?
I live in a speedy world… and so I (and my money) want a 11 or more fps
If I want a max.!!! 3.5 fps so I would spend my money on NIkon or Canon- not on this sleeping japanise beat… no not at all.
Fire the responsable decision maker at SONYs! Hire me!
Spare the resources for this s of a cam and build a real modern Thing that will blow our breath away! Do it! You Sony have a lot of high paid engineers so let them work for our Money!
a angry
mac-baar
Why the HELL you need 11 or more fps????
this is bullshit!!
to take a GOOD photo you dont have to make 47892261014765 milliards of photos nd than pick the best out of those 47892261014765 milliards!!
a GOOD fotographer makes just ONE ultimate photo!!!
I understand that sometimes it is nice, but you dont need to have more than 5 fps!
this is BULLSHIT! waste your time on somthing else you dont have a clue about…
LOL. Agree big time!
Indeed, once you arrive at 24 fps, let’s call it video. Uh oh, the 4K camera is coming too.
I actually welcomed the high fps of my NEX last time I was at a Formula race… of course, I’m not the usual user, but still, the “5fps is good for everyone” is bullshit, like the old “640kbyte has to be enough for everyone”.
11 fps is an option, not an obligation.
Stop being so cheap and buy a higher end camera. Complaining about a spec u will never use in the lowest end of the line. Ridiculous!
“Fire the responsable decision maker at SONYs! Hire me”
best decision ever if you want you bankrupt your company! 😀
“Fire the responsable decision maker at SONYs! Hire me”
best decision ever if Sony wants to go bankrupt! 😀
There are higher speed camera options for you and those that require it from Sony in e or a-mount, by Canon or by Nikon.
@angry,
did you own a camera? what type and what price?
did you race your goat with horses?
This is exactly the kind of info we would like to read about the A77II
Is that the camera meant in the statement of Mark Weir in that B&H-movie two entries below? Where ist says:
“54:50 min Mark says Sony wants to make cameras that have been never made before. And you will see more of that shortly!”
Impressive indeed.
Well, before the A3000 a DSLR-shaped E-mount camera had never been made before. And the A3500 is the first DSLR-shaped E-mount camera that replaces another DSLR-shaped E-mount camera.
You should work in advertising. Or politics. 😉
First non-compact camera of the year… with E-Mount! >.<
Smart marketing by Sony 🙂
Congrat!
I wonder how many a3000 owners will ‘upgrade’ to the spanking new a3500 not realizing it’s the same camera, different name. ;^)
i don’t think the average consumer of a3000 would even consider a “upgrade”, they don’t suffer from bad GAS as the enthusiast market do
Point taken.
I bet the majority of a3xxx cameras are bought with good intensions but end up collecting dust in a closet.
Why? The sensor of the A3000 is state-of-the-art for APS-C. So the Picture Quality is as good as the higher APS-C models.
Meet the new boss same as the old boss…
Significant model number bump. Insignificant change? Sony does a B&H propaganda piece pimping the a7/a7r and spews some encouragement about having a passion for doing something different with cameras. This joke, the a3500, being the first future case in point? ;^)
Naturally, e-mount fans will hate it because it doesn’t look like a black card deck. Sure, it’ll cheese off a-mount fans because it’s a faux DSLR look-alike that does that category’s features poorly like having a really crappy EVF and, despite looking like a DSLR, its handling isn’t anything to get excited about. But the point is a cheap mass-produced introductory body to hook the lowest of the low entry level customer. At least America’s 2nd largest big box retailer, Target, carries it. Something I can’t say about any other e-mount or a-mount.
I get why Sony makes the a3xxxx. My only question/complaint is why not do a real refresh of it?
Insignificant model updates is Canon’s bread and butter… seems to work for them…:)
Do people need this.? Can’t the release things people want instead?
You and I may scoff at such a camera but do remember the best selling DSLR on Amazon is a crappy Canon T3i which isn’t much better than this camera. In fact its super old sensor is outdated while the A3500 has a better sensor.
Canon T3i is a lot better. It has PDAF, while this thing only has CDAF.
the rumour DOES mention phase focusing under asterisk footnote.
It makes sense cause it’s a new sensor and they haven’t even updated older 16 mpx cameras for PDAF with all lenses.
Yes Canon has PDAF. That is a pretty big con IMO. CDAF doesn’t suffer from front and back focusing like PDAF does.
It seems that the A3500 has both PDAF and CDAF focusing and has better IQ to boot while costing less.
Yes those who need to build a system will be better served with a T3i but I am willing to bet money that tons of T3i buyers will never use anything more than the kit lens and maybe a telephoto. The A3500 is better in that regard though Sony screwed up by having a lens without OSS. That was plain ridiculous given they have to manufacture a new lens just for this camera.
Define better…
For some IQ and price is more important
And yet another example of where the admin has waited so long to get “confirmations” and “SR5” that the rumor date almost coincides with the official release date. I really really wish this site would return to be a rumors site again, and not a site where we can read Sony press releases one day earlier.
A timeline something like this?
SR1: Sony may be working working on an a3000 replacement. No spec improvements available.
SR2: Sony probably is working on an a3000 replacement. No spec change information available.
SR3: Sony confirmed to be working on an a3000 replacement. No spec change information still available.
SR4: Sony a3000 replacement forthcoming by Spring. Probably named a3500. No spec change information yet.
SR5: Sony a3500 preorders available. New lens. Still no spec change information.
Sony official announcement: We’re excited to announce the release of the a3500. It’s an a3000 body with a new lens but we’re so impressed with ourselves we renamed it anyhow!
Sarcasm mode off! ;^)
Or. Rumor has it, Sony is competing with Olympus Cap Lens for the cheapest crap lens imaginable…
… so just the kit is new, and the number..
A- MOUNT IS DEAD.
EIGHT New E-mount cameras and counting in the last 12 months.
ZERO A-mount cameras in that time.
HOW CAN ANYONE POSSIBLY ARGUE THIS STATEMENT ANYMORE?!
I can. Sony still states the A99 is their flagship professional camera, period. HOW CAN ANYONE THINK ALL CAPITAL STATEMENTS ARENT TRUE?
Yeppers,
The numbers you state are true, yet how does this prove that A-mount is dead?
It doesnt.
Nopers.
i dont think this means a mount is dead, but it is incredibly concerning…
They introduced a brand new system, and refreshed their consumer focused e mount line over the last year. They see the NEX stuff like point and shoots (shiny new models every year or so) Calm yourself down. The A mount cameras have a much longer life cycle, by necessity. The A99 isn’t even terribly old.
Your call for constant body releases is really crazy and would put Sony put of business.
If you had just a tiny, barely perceptible bit of patience and stopped shaking your tiny fists about A mount bodies, Sony would have time to maybe design a nice lens or two, develop improved components and actually make generational differences bigger. We will have A mount bodies this year
You forget just a few years ago, we had many, many fresh A-mount camera releases, at an even faster pace than the E-mount releases now.
A Mount is not dead. A99 is shown as their top tier pro camera in sony’s official marketing material. But many believe A Mount should become mirrorless sooner or later when AF speed is greatly improved.
I didn’t see this one coming. A new kit lens without OSS? How cheap are they going to sell this kit, $200?? Or did Sony put IBIS in this thing?
Come on……when you go out of your way to make a DSLR shaped mirrorless e-mount camera you send a very loud message.This camera is completely not needed….it’s a pile of absolute garbage. It’s an eye sore to both alpha and e-mount users. No one should be subjected to such rubbish.
so, one new piece of junk to replace the first piece of junk. WHO needs e mirrorless in a DSLR housing, if you want to do some, do them in A-mount, there it has a sense. Now, what’s about focus peaking for manual work, does this one includes it? I worked a few days with a A58 a week ago and I found it a pleasant camera to use. The EVF looks the same as NEX-7 one, the fucus peaking was ok too. A58 has all one needs, I just ask myself why Sony is not making something serious with that 20 mpix sensor. The pictures are just great.
That lens doesn’t even support manual focussing.
I understand the target group: Walmart shoppers who want a dead cheap but “professional” looking camera. Completely smart to cater to that group. But the features of the camera are quite disappointing (apart from the sensor), and thus I imagine those customers will never return to Sony because the camera they once bought was so crappy in so many ways.
I disagree. The ‘crap’ features of the camera are immediately obvious (EVF, controls and screen), however if they do buy it, they will be pleasantly surprised of the IQ for the money they paid. If they bought a wizz-bang bridge camera that ‘looks like a DSLR’ however, thinking they are getting DSLR quality they will be sorely disappointed by the IQ. It’s a trade off, most people want and ‘easy camera with excellent IQ’… This is exactly that.
Unless it’s the rx10…
I do not agree totally on that with you. I have seen pictures made by the A3000 and I can only say, whow. But, do not forget that all the stuff that some more advanced photographers, like me that holds a camera for 53 years now, ask for, is often not of any interest for most people who want a simple camera to press the button and that is all they need to think about. A3000 does in no point deceives in IQ, it is close to NEX-7 in IQ, and here are a few samples:
http://www.pbase.com/image/154902963
http://www.pbase.com/wietsej/image/154923551
The quality of the 20 mpix sensor is stunning and the a3000 does not makes any difference in IQ, despite the low price. Now, a3500 will have a lower quality lens, and here I can not say if the IQ will be less or same, the lens is cheaper, less fast and without OSS. So, let’s wait and see. I would buy this camera as a body only, for my daughter, if it had focus peaking, so that I could sometimes have pleasure with it too. In the view of us, the old experienced, it is a plastic piece of junk if we consider what it offers in overall body quality and features. But, for many it will be a starter and many of those customers, mainly children who will get this as a present, it will be a jump in something better at a later time. Nobody will forbid to anyone to buy abetter camera right away, there is enough choice. Anyway, it does the job for what it has been made, it shoots pictures, good pictures.
The image quality is impressive indeed, I already admitted that.
But I wonder if the target group will note the difference. My father, an avid Panasonic Superzoom shooter, tends to take mid-res pics (like 5 MP) only – because “that is enough and does not take so much space on the hard drive”.
On the other hand, the camera has no real selling point apart from the interchangeable lens thingy. The EVF is not impressive (and which hardly anybody will use because the back screen is more practical), the screen itself is not impressive, the camera is bulky (in comparison to the a5000 for example), the lens has a minimal zoom range and no manual focus ring, no OSS and is lame as hell. So nothing to brag about, no party camera, not very portable, no camera to “learn photography”.
Maybe a camera a photo fanatic would buy for his daugther because “IQ is what matters”, right.
But for starters I would rather recommend one of those superzoom cameras – als least the zoom range is covering all needs, and IQ is as good as you might need it.
I tried the A-3000 and found the EVF un-usable for manual focusing with the focus peaking. That’s probably why the lens is like that. I think f4 is unusable for non landscape shots in natural light. I would get a new shooter an entry level a-mount before this. Though it does have decent IQ if you can make it work for you.
18-50 beginning at F4? The old 18-55 is F3.5-5.6, so the new one is slower and has less reach, from the picture it seems to be larger too. Don’t really understand the point of this lens
Your post is only partially correct !! You missed out that even OSS is lacking on the new lens ! 😛
So it is slower, has less reach, larger AND lacks OSS. Win win !!! 😀
Ah, you are right, I missed the OSS
the only thing they needed to change was the 1990 evf in that thing. and its the most suspiciously vague spec listed here
Yeah Sony, forget about A77 and concentrate on replacing one-year old A3000.
Well played.
Nothing strange about that. All manufacturers replace their entry-level models every year, whereas enthusiast/prosumer models get replaced every 2-3 years. Canon 60D and Nikon D7000 were released in 2010 and the successors were released in 2013. The A77 was released in 2011, so it seems about right to replace it in 2014.
With all the new model number families just created by Sony, I actually hoped that they would make a fresh start and consider an long-term durable strategy when incrementing numbers.
But, alas, they keep skipping numbers big time.
This could have been an a3010.
Sony, the future is a long time.
The A3000 is not old at all, why replace it?
Why replace it with such camera without any serious difference.
If one model does not sell well, bring out another (that costs less to make) for the same introductory price. Various web outfits have to say that there is a new camera from Sony and that makes news. There will be reviews that will be praising the new camera and the new zoom. In another 6 months bring out a A3601…life continues until serious losses (it will be too late) begin to bite….
IMO the A3000 was introduced at $399. This is $499 with a worse kit lens . Maybe they improved the viewfinder but the specs are not clear on that.
The viewfinder was pretty much un-useable for manual focus on the A-3000.
I’m sure that buyers of this type of camera don’t even read photographics forum, neither SAR, so who knows maybe Sony is selling a ton of this things 😉
The change in the lens is a kind of absurd, the original one is not that bad as to look a replacement and less with worse specs.
Is Sony thinking that f4 on Zooms is the new black.
Agreed. f4 is not enough light for non landscape natural light shots on an APS-C sensor even if this is sharper than other NEX kit lenses.
f4 adequacy depends on lens quality matched to sensor matched to processing engine. Try the Zeiss 16-70 E-mount with constant f4 and you may be surprised, if that’s the kind of flexibility you want. After all f4 isn’t much less light than f.3.5 and you have it all the way from wide-angle to a reasonable tele. Of course wider primes are better for low light when it gets really demanding.
do we need the people? adolf hittler….
wouw maximum silence!
if they are willing to sell this on $299 maybe ^ ^
I am 100% sure the price will drop soon. The NEX3N is pretty successful body for Sony and that sells at $299 currently while it was launched for $499 like the A3500.
http://www.jbhifi.com.au/photo/digital-cameras/sony/alpha-3500-compact-system-camera-kit-black-sku-544982/
you got it
Folks, Sony is on its last legs, financially. Why do you think Sigma keeps postponing the fabulous 1.8 18-35mm for Sony? They want to know first that Sony cameras will still be around by 2015. I think they will and the name on the camera will still start with S but then continue with amsung.
I can’t think of too many financially dead companies launching new products in such quick succession.
I think Sigma is postponing the 18-35mm f1.8 for Sony mostly because the demand for Canon and Nikon versions is very high and Sigma can’t really keep up. That lens is already low on stock on Amazon and a few other retailers.
It is not in stock anywhere and it keeps getting postponed. Sigma is not considering releasing many more lenses for the A mount, I learned, as they do not think that Sony is committed to that mount, anymore. If they will release more lenses for the E-mount remains to be seen.
Are you really planning on buying this camera or just whining ?
Sigma has released almost all its latest lenses for Sony mount also.
Sigma 35mm f1.4 is in stock. Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 is backordered on Amazon,
Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC HSM lens is in stock.
So which lens is Sigma not considering releasing for A mount ?
Your posts are utter rubbish.
True. I am talking about future lenses. They told me they will wait and see before starting any production runs. As to the 18-35mm, this is the only wide-ish zoom worth having if you are interested in sharp pictures. I tell you something, I will go as far as buying another NEX-6 body (I gave up on the A mount) and a Metabones EF lens adapter just to be able to get this lens in any mount (Canon in this case). But I do not really see the point of carrying two cameras with two different mounts. Changing adapters all the time is tiresome. One more thing for the editors of this page. Apparently, it is acceptable to call other people a troll for bringing up an issue that is widely discussed in the Japanese business press where the Japanese government has already been asked to prevent a Samsung takeover of Sony.
I said you were talking BS which you still haven’t been able to refute. You even deleted some of your posts which says a lot.
If I had made any below the belt remarks or used foul language I would apologize in an instant.
Anyways since you have given me a civil answer here I will also reply in a civil tone.
Yes you are correct having two systems isn’t the best option. If Sony doesn’t support your needs it makes sense to switch to another system.
I too am planning on moving to Canon mostly because Sony doesn’t have very good support in my country.
Sony isn’t financially in the best shape but don’t forget their imaging division is profit making. If anything TV and laptop consumers are the ones who need to be worried rather than camera users.
Have to correct myself. Their insurance business is doing very well. Analysts think that this is what they should stick with and get out of electronics altogether (see below). Enough of this, now. Really don’t have time for people with no manners. The word BS did not feature anywhere in my post but it appears to make up a large part of your vocabulary.
Sony Makes Big Profits, Just Not on Electronics
By Bruce Einhorn February 10, 2014
Not all companies with Sony (SNE) in the name are toxic. Take Sony Financial, the insurer in which Sony owns a 60 percent stake. While the parent company said last week that it expects to lose $1.1 billion for the 2013-14 fiscal year, Sony Financial is doing just fine, thanks.
The insurer expects net income of ¥40 billion for the current fiscal year, better than its earlier target of ¥37 billion. The updated profit forecast slightly exceeded the ¥39.7 billion yen consensus of 15 analysts. Sony Financial also increased its forecast of revenue by 6.7 percent, and revenue for the first three quarters of the current fiscal year have increased 20.2 percent. The strong results are thanks in part to growth in Sony Financial’s life insurance and auto insurance premiums.
Unfortunately for Sony, the parent company doesn’t stick to selling insurance policies. It sells TVs, too, even though it can’t manage to do so profitably. Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai said the company will lose money on its television business for the 10th year in a row, with the red ink for TVs this time amounting to ¥25 billion yen. “Investors don’t have much faith in Hirai,” Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Asset Management in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News. “There’s no growth strategy.”
Story: Amazon’s Fire TV Piles Into the Living Room
That’s not totally fair. Hirai is taking some steps to get Sony out of crummy businesses. Witness his decision to give up on PCs. For now, however, he seems unwilling to jettison TVs, a business with a No. 3 market share worldwide that’s nonetheless dragging down the company. “My responsibility is to turn around the electronics operation,” Hirai said. “I’d like to say this time’s reform is final, but amid intensifying competition, reform may be needed going forward.”
With competition from the Koreans and the Chinese putting pressure on Sony, the company isn’t going to solve any problems by stubbornly sticking with TVs. “You hear about losses from this company year after year after year,” Atul Goyal, a Jefferies analyst in Singapore, told Bloomberg Television. For Sony, he added, the goal should be to use the PC selloff as the first step of a broader retreat: “Salvation is an exit from electronics.”
One promising sign: Hirai is creating a separate subsidiary for Sony’s TV business. Down the road, that might make an exit easier. For now, though, there’s no salvation in sight.
Einhorn is Asia regional editor in Bloomberg Businessweek’s Hong Kong bureau. Follow him on Twitter @BruceEinhorn.
One more thing. Are these really new products? A3500 instead of A3000 and A77II instead of A77 and soon A7S instead of A7R. Sony has not got the funds for new product development. That is a fact.
Your comments are full of half truths and whole lies !
1. A3500 is the same as A3000 – Half truth. Yes body is the same but lens is newly designed. Required R&D, manufacturing etc.
2. A77II instead of A77 – Complete lie. The name is similar but the sensor is brand new and if we are to believe the admin AF is much much improved. So its a brand new camera. Would you call the 5D MK II and MK III the same camera with a few tweaks ?
3. A7s instead of A7r – Complete lie. We know the A7s has a brand new 12 MP sensor capable of shooting 4k. Thats about as different from a 36 MP sensor as one can get in this day and age.
Your facts are about as correct as people calling the world flat.
You should stop calling other people liers lest somebody one day cut your tongue out.
1. An inferior lens.
2. We will have to wait and see if this new sensor is any improvement. Most bits of this camera will come from the old model as Sony has no money right now to invest in all new cameras.
3. A 12MP sensor? Why not a 6 or 3 MP sensor?
You notice something? It is in the sensor department that Sony is making changes. That is the only profitable division they have left.
Now you can remove this reply, Editors. Apparently only your buddies are allowed to insult other people.
Ha ha, I like how you conveniently delete your posts but unless I have made some personal remarks against you I will not apologize. I have called you on your BS which is why I said they were lies.
1. An inferior lens is still a new lens. Takes money to design and create. Plus how do you know its an inferior lens. Could be an optical gem. A financially dead company would try and avoid anything new.
2. Why wait ? The A6000 has a newer 24 MP sensor and all tests show its an improvement over the 24 MP sensor in the NEX 7 and A77.
3. Are you an engineer ? Well neither am I but Sony has tons of highly paid engineers who work on their sensor labs and their sensor business is booming. So I would wager they will have some reasons for having a 12 MP sensor. Possibly for video but we can only speculate at this point.
Only sensor department ? DId you conveniently forget that EVFs have also been improving also designed by Sony, And the A6000 shoots at 11 fps with focus tracking which means AF speed and processing speed have all improved.
So once again all half truths and full lies. You need to make some better arguments if you really want an apology from me.
Sorry to say but your detraction to my replies are extremely weak to say the least.
20 years ago we read the news in magazines or Wall St. Journal backed up with facts. Now we read news on the internet and trolls from competing companies write libelous trash about products without any facts to back it up. Sad and pathetic.
So, you work for Sony, then, Johnny. Start looking for a new job. Our Company is in healthcare and our annual profits are 15x the annual loss of Sony. I have been a user of Minolta and then (alas) Sony cameras for many years and I am fed up with these jokers.
If you are fed up, please sell your equipment, move to Canon or Nikon OR ANY other system and bitch about them on their forums. 🙂