Sony A3500 release date rumored to be April 2014

Sony’s upcoming entry-level E-mount mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the A3500, is rumored to have been set for an April 2014 release date.

After Sony Australia has spilled the beans on the Sony A3000 replacement, which will go by the name of A3500, the rumor mill has begun looking for information regarding the camera’s release date.

The first details come from a place that a lot of people would not expect: South Africa. A popular website with very important connections in the African country is claiming that the Sony A3500 release date is closer than we think.

Sony A3500 release date set for April, launch event in a few days

The release date of the Sony ILCE-3500 / A3500 is believed to have been set for April 2014.

When companies make a mistake and reveal a product, we can immediately assume that the product in question is very close to its launch. However, the date when it is actually coming on the market is always unknown. Well, do not fret as the HTXT blog is claiming that Sony will release the A3000 successor in April 2014.

Sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is set to be unveiled in a matter of days. The product launch event will take place in numerous countries, while the release date is definitely scheduled for next month.

Sony’s A3500 is not very different from the A3000

The South Africa website is also confirming what we have already found out from Sony Australia: the A3500 and the A3000 will not be very different.

The new model will feature the same 20.1-megapixel Exmor APS-C HD image sensor, the LCD screen will be unchanged, while the electronic viewfinder will also be identical to the one available in the A3000.

Moreover, the maximum ISO can be set at 16,000, while the maximum shutter speed is still 1/4000th of a second, making a lot of people wonder what has changed.

Well, one of the biggest changes consists of the kit lens. A new 18-50mm f/4-5.6 is taking the place of the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 available with the Sony ILCE-3000.

Price could go well-below $400, source says

HTXT says that the Sony A3500 and the 18-50mm f/4-5.6 lens kit will retail for a price of R3,999, which translates into about $370.

This is a lot cheaper than the price advertised by Sony Australia of AUD$499 or about $450 and, on a personal note, we have to admit that it would make much more sense to be cheaper than $400.

Either way, take this with a pinch of salt and wait for the Japanese company to make it official. Meanwhile, the Sony A3000 is available for less than $350 at Amazon.