Sony Alpha A3000 review

IMAGE QUALITY

The 20-megapixel sensor is probably the same one that we saw in the Sony A58 . Noise levels were lower than we achieved with the A58, though, as the A3000 doesn’t use a translucent mirror that reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor. Noise in raw files was broadly on a par with the 16-megapixel Sony NEX-3N, and not too far behind the best consumer SLRs. Noise reduction was applied liberally in JPEGs, and gave presentable results up to ISO 6400.

There would have been more skin texture if this shot was taken in stronger light, but at dusk (and ISO 1250) it still looks clean and reasonably detailed

There’s very little evidence of noise at ISO 2500 – a superb result

Automatic exposures were superbly judged, coping particularly well in high-contrast scenes, thanks in part to Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimisation that boosts the brightness of shadows. The Auto ISO mode maxes out at ISO 3200, and while we’d be tempted to switch to manual higher settings, it coped well in anything but the gloomiest indoor light.

We really like how the automatic exposure handled this tricky shot, maintaining detail in both the sky and the grass

The high resolution revealed the limitations of the kit lens, though. We’ve seen this lens a few times before, and once again, its focus trailed off towards the edges of frames. It’s not a critical flaw, and has little bearing for portraits where we’d only expect the main subject to be in focus. It’s not so attractive for landscape photography, but it wasn’t too noticeable at normal viewing sizes.

The kit lens’s focus deteriorates towards the edges of frames

The video mode performed well, with sharp, clean details and flattering colours. Recordings are at 1080i or 1080p at 25fps, with clip lengths up to 30 minutes. There’s full manual exposure control for those who like to get creative with their video productions.

CONCLUSION

Some people will be put off by low-resolution screen and EVF, the lack of a command dial and the less-than-blistering performance. There are cameras that address all of these issues, such as the superb Panasonic G6. However, the A3000 broadly matches the G6 for image quality, and it costs less than half the price.

The only direct rival at this price is the Canon EOS 1100D, but this three-year-old SLR is showing its age with noisier JPEG output, a smaller screen, slower continuous performance and basic 720p video capture.

Ultimately, we don’t think of the A3000 as an alternative to an SLR or pricier CSC. At this price, the A3000 is a credible alternative to a compact camera, and it may even tempt people who would otherwise not bother with a camera at all and just stick to their phone.

Smartphone cameras are so good these days that conventional compacts look less and less tempting, but the A3000’s superb low-light performance, interchangeable lenses, viewfinder and big handgrip mean it really does offer something different. At £249, we think it’s a recipe for success.