The QV 3500 is a direct successor of the QV 3000 camera. The QV 3500 differs only in a black color of the case. At a closer look it is clear that the camera hasn't undergone any changes: according to the manufacturer it has the same case, the same lens and the same matrix. So, we have a camera in the 3000 case, with the same lens from Canon and the ICX252 matrix from Sony. As for appearance, there are two alterations: an infrared port disappeared and the decorative ring around the lens was replaced with the ring with a threading for optical attachments. But the threading is quite exotic, some 48 mm. So, you have to acquire a special adapter from Casio. It is possibly easier to attach the adapter of the QV 3000 than to buy an adapter for the QV 3500. As for its insides, the QV 3500 has a menu system similar not to the 3000 model but to the QV 2800. That is why the same buttons on the case of the 3500 and 3000 have different funtions.

All undocumented peculiarities of the QV 3000 are now reflected in the description. So, you can now choose file recording in JPEG or TIFF. The TIFF format is now standard and is recognized by any program, including the Photoshop. But one snapshot in the TIFF-RGB takes 9 MBytes against 6 MBytes of the QV 3000 in the TIFF-YC, and is transferred into a computer via a USB during 50 s as compared as 27 s of the QV 3000. The camera is equipped with a remote controller, the same as of the QV 2800. That remote controller also works with the QV 3000, but at the same time the writings on the buttons do not coincide. The QV 3500 lacks for this problem, since it has a standardized with the QV 2800 menu. The changes have touched the remote control software. Now, with the DiCa Soft program, we can shoot and record every shot after the shooting into a computer at any focal length. When switching to the data transfer mode, the lens is not put back to a transportation position but leaves the focal length previously set for shooting. I haven't seen a program written specially for this camera, but it works perfectly with the QV 2800's one.

Unfortunately, unification with the QV 2800 has both positive and negative sides. Switching between exposition adjustment, shutter priority and aperture priority is really more convenient than that of the QV 3000. But the sequence of focusing mode switching is a step backward. In the QV 3000 an auto focusing mode is followed by a manual focusing mode and with once pressing the button you can fix the sharpness implemented by the automatic system. The QV 3500 and the QV 2800 have a reverse sequence, i.e. the auto focusing is followed by the macro shooting mode, then infinity focusing and only after that comes the manual focusing. It means that the focusing which is set automatically will be destroyed until you will get to a manual focusing. Furthermore, a measuring point adjustement was added. In my opinion, it doesn't matter when shooting manually since you can also make the measurement at the center of the frame, and then move the camera. But if the camera is attached to a tripod, then it is very convenient.

Like in the QV2800, the menu contains a lot of settings dealing with a great deal of types of shooting.

The playback menu has also undergone some changes, but they are for the most part pleasant.

Well, you can view the parameters at which the snapshot was taken, and to look at the bar chart of pixel brightness distribution. It is interesting that if you insert a memory card with shots taken by the QV 3000, you will be able to see a bar chart for a shot taken by the QV 3000.

The EXIF header has changed a bit, i.e. the main parameters (exposure, aperture) have remained at their previous places and are available for nearly any software. But the DiCaInfo v.1.3 program, written by enthusiasts for the QV 3000 and allowing you to receive all the information on the taken shot, can't retrieve any additional data from file headers written with the QV 3500. Fortunately, the 1.4 version solves this problem. The only thing that disappoints me is that Casio does not launch any similar programs.

Shot quality

Our shooting of the resolution chart and the direct comparison of shots made by the QV 3000 and QV 3500 haven't reveal any cardinal differences between the cameras, that is why everything what concerns shots made with the QV 3000 can be referred to the QV 3500.

The shots made with the QV 3000 camera in various conditions can be found in the following articles:

• Panoramas and programs for their creation
• Digital photo shooting on the Russia championship and European Cup for Freeride
• Shooting of water

Conclusion

This model is a worthy successor of the Casio cameras. In my opinion, it is worth buying the camera due to two advantages: first of all, a possibility of remote control and snap shooting with any focal length and with further immediate shot transfer into a computer. So, if you need to shoot some experiments with the simultaneous control of the shooting process from a computer, to shoot scenes for high quality animated cartoon films, save all settings after you have taken a photo and display it on a large monitor, then you need the QV 3500. Another advantage is a proprietary ring for optical attachments. In all other respects, both cameras are completely identical.

Technical characteristics