Nikon D3500 vs Sony A7R IV

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Nikon D3500 vs Sony A7R IV

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3500.
Compare Nikon D3500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3500 conclusion.

35mm 849.7mm²
61.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R IV Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R IV in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R IV.
Compare Sony A7R IV image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R IV conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7R V

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Differences

Nikon D3500 advantages over Sony A7R IV

Less expensive
$597 vs $3164*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1550 vs 670 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Sony A7R IV advantages over Nikon D3500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Longer video battery life
105 vs 75 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
61.0 vs 24.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
7.2 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
32 vs 13 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D3500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R IV User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D3500

Kit with 18-55mm VR lens

Kit with 18-55mm VR lens
Kit with 18-55mm VR and 70-300mm lenses

All D3500 Deals

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Buy the Sony A7R IV

Body Only

All A7R IV Deals

Review Excerpt

Great image quality for its class; Excellent high ISO performance for APS-C; Fast single-shot AF speeds; Compact, easy to use design; Incredible value at under $500 with lens.
11-point AF system feels out-dated; Underwhelming C-AF performance; Below average viewfinder coverage accuracy; No touchscreen; Limited wireless features.
Read our Nikon D3500 Review

Outstanding image quality; Excellent high ISOs; Fast AF performance with Eye-AF tracking; 10fps bursts at full-resolution; Improved ergonomics; Dual UHS-II card slots; Higher-res EVF.
Expensive; No 4Kp60; Buffer clearing could be faster; Menus are still frustrating; Touchscreen underutilized; No built-in flash.
Read our Sony A7R IV Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D5600

Nikon D3500

Nikon D5600

$623
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D5600

Sony A7R IV

Nikon D5600

$3331
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$898
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Canon SL2

Nikon D3500

Canon SL2

$623
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3500 vs Canon SL2

Sony A7R IV

Canon SL2

$3331
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Canon SL2

Compared to Canon SL3

Nikon D3500

Canon SL3

$623
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$632
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D3500 vs Canon SL3

Sony A7R IV

Canon SL3

$3331
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$632
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Canon SL3

Compared to Canon R5

Nikon D3500

Canon R5

$623
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$3349
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D3500 vs Canon R5

Sony A7R IV

Canon R5

$3331
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

$3349
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Canon R5

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Nikon D3500

Nikon Z7 II

$623
APS-C

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

$2330
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D3500 vs Nikon Z7 II

Sony A7R IV

Nikon Z7 II

$3331
35mm

High resolution composite
NFC

$2330
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Nikon Z7 II

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