Sony A3000 First Impressions Review

August 2013 | By Shawn Barnett and Richard Butler

Preview based on a pre-production Sony A3000

Sony's taking a different approach to the consumer interchangeable lens market with the A3000, essentially a 20.1MP APS-C mirrorless camera that uses the same E-mount as the Sony NEX line, yet which has the look and feel of a traditional SLR. Though not the first manufacturer to take this approach, Sony is the first to achieve the low starting price point of $399 for both lens and body. However, to achieve that price point the company had to choose lower quality components for the LCD and electronic viewfinder (EVF).

While small mirrorless cameras have caught on in much of the world, adoption is quite low in the US, with most consumers preferring more substantial-looking cameras like Rebel-class and mid-range SLRs. If they're going to spend several hundred dollars, the reasoning seems to be that most want something that looks like a professional camera. Superficially, the Sony A3000 is rather like the now-discontinued Panasonic G10, a low-priced mirrorless with an EVF and an LCD on the back, designed to ape, if not directly challenge Canon's Rebel and Nikon's D3000-series SLRs.

Sony A3000 key features

20.1MP Exmor APS-C HD CMOS sensor
Compatible with Sony E-mount lenses and A-mount with optional adaptor
1080 60i video
Built-in stereo microphones
Optical Steady Shot stabilization
25-point Contrast-detect AF
3-inch, 230K LCD
ISO 100-16,000 for stills, 100-3200 for video
1/4000 to 30 second shutter speeds, bulb
Sweep panorama
Shooting tips, Intelligent Auto, other novice modes
HDMI out

From the front, the A3000 sells itself well, with handsome design and black spatter paint. The standard 18-55mm kit lens seems just a little small though, on the comparitively fulsome body. The grip is ample, and one could almost imagine a pentamirror fitting behind that Sony logo (though of course there isn't one).

However, the illusion falls apart when you pick up the A3000. While the feel of the grip is indeed substantial, the rest of the camera looks and feels hollow from the back. Its appearance also screams low-budget, with few controls. The LCD is more coarse than we're used to seeing these days, with disappointingly low 230,400-dot resolution; its 3-inch size amplifies the effect. The small EVF is also disappointing, and what appears to be a rubber pad around the outside is actually hard plastic, a hazard to glasses-wearers. Those who liked the menus of the NEX system cameras will feel right at home with the A3000's menu; those who did not will carry on hating.

Perhaps the most glaring miscue is that there's no infrared proximity sensor to switch between the LCD and EVF. Instead you have to press a button on the top of the A3000, one that's difficult to reach over the Mode dial with your hand on the grip. A small thing, but for a camera that is designed to appeal to customers on the showroom floor of Best Buy and Costco, it'll likely fail the first test everyone will naturally put to the camera when they pick it up and look through the viewfinder - expecting it to perform like an SLR, they'll wonder why the finder is black.

Our concern is that while it was designed to appeal to those who want the perception of professional quality offered by the SLRs of other manufacturers (Sony openly admitted as much to us), despite its appearance the A3000 fails in two key ways: it neither feels like an SLR nor does it function entirely like an SLR either. And as potential buyers move down the counter trying the various other cameras on display, we think they'll notice the difference.

Of course, this is the enthusiast perspective. Naturally, a lot of people will look no further than the pricetag. This is a $400 interchangeable lens camera. It has a 20.1MP sensor. It captures 1080 60i movies with built-in stereo mics. Those specs are hard to argue with. And the A3000 has so many of the features that make Sony NEX cameras appealing, but packaged in an SLR-like body. For those willing to live with the low-res EVF and LCD, the Sony A3000 is undoubtedly a bargain. It enters a price range appropriate for older kids wanting a better camera, a smartphone upgrader, as well as simple impulse buys, gifts and anyone wanting a decent sensor and interchangeable lenses without spending a fortune.

Kit options and pricing

Expected to retail for $400, the Sony A3000 and 18-55mm kit lens will ship in early September 2013.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

GearShop

Sony Alpha a3000 Mirrorless Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens●

$398.00

Buy on GearShop

Sony a3000 Interchangeable Lens Digital 20.1MP Camera	$398.00
Sony a3000 Interchangeable Lens Digital 20.1MP Camera	$398.00
Sony a3000 alpha a3000 ILCE-3000K/B, ILCE3000, Interchangeable Lens Digital 20.1MP Camera Bundle with 32GB High Speed Card, Spare Battery, Rapid Charger, SLR Guide DVD, UV filter, Padded Case, Mini HDMI Cable + More	$429.00
Sony Alpha A3000 Digital Camera & 18-55mm Lens with 32GB Card + Battery + Backpack + Flex Tripod + 2 Lenses Kit	$449.95
SONY ALPHA 3000 KIT 18-55 MM SCHWARZ ILCE-3000K	$398.00
Sony Alpha A3000 Digital Camera & 18-55mm Lens with 55-210mm Lens + 64GB Card + Battery + Charger + Case + 3 Filters + Tripod + Tele/Wide Lenses Kit	$724.95
Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens	$750.00
Sony Alpha A3000 Digital Camera & 18-55mm Lens with 32GB Card + Battery + Charger + Case + Filter + Tripod + Tele/Wide Lenses Kit	$454.95
Sony a3000 alpha a3000 ILCE-3000K/B, ILCE3000, Interchangeable Lens Digital 20.1MP Camera Bundle with 64GB High Speed Card, Spare Battery, Rapid Charger, SLR Guide DVD, UV filter, Padded Case, Mini HDMI Cable + More	$449.00
Sony Alpha A3000 Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Black) with 55-210mm OSS Zoom Lens	$648.00
Sony Alpha A3000 Digital Camera & 18-55mm Lens with 64GB Card + Battery + Charger + Case + Tripod + Lenses Kit	$469.95

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Comments

Total comments: 656

The more I think about this camera the more I think it will turn off buyers and quickly get them frustrated.
The Super-zooms have more useful lenses and the small DLSRs focus more reliably.

0 upvotes

LOL what? Do you wanted to say "focus faster"? Because cheap camera with PDAF and questionable QC hardly can be reliable in focus precision, unlike a camera with CDAF approach.

Comment edited 20 seconds after posting

1 upvote

What?!? You mean super-zooms with really slow apertures and tiny sensors beyond them, and that you can't remove? You mean DSLRs that are heavier, cost more, and use much larger lenses? Sorry, but *everything* same some element of "frustration" if you think about it hard enough. Clearly, you've been thinking pretty hard about reasons to hate this camera. Most consumers won't. They'll think: $400, compact, light weight, interchangeable lenses, APS-C sensor, panoramic sweep, looks like a DSLR...buy!

3 upvotes

I think your dislikes of this camera reveal the hyper-technology viewpoint of most digital camera reviews. Half the stuff on most digital cameras is never even used.Secondly, people who started out with film cameras -- admittedly old timers like myself -- would probably like a camera with less gizmos better.

5 upvotes

How do you empty your warehouses that are overflowing with tons of unsold sensors and spare parts and hopefully turn a small profit too? Sony's answer is the a3000. And at a $400 price point they have at least a 50% chance of being right. After all, shoppers on an extremely limited budget who want the DSLR look and an interchangeable lens system instead of a superzoom equipped fixed lens body, and who want to buy new instead of used are bound to exist. The question is; are there enough of them to make this latest effort by Sony pay off? I guess we will know by the end of the Christmas shopping season. Good luck Sony!

Comment edited 8 minutes after posting

5 upvotes

What tons of unsold NEW sensors would that be? Or tons of unsold new 270k LCDs? Tons of unsold low-spec EVFs?

Are you having a laugh?

4 upvotes

DSLR Wannabe :-)

1 upvote

Hey, Sony puts the money where it matters...the sensor. $400 for what is probably a world class APS-C sensor on an interchangeable lens platform...sounds pretty awesome to me!

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

18 upvotes

I am honestly considering one just for the timelapses and stuff (where I don't care about EVF and stuff, and having a mirror is just a huge pain in the ass to begin width, from vibration and durability point of view).

2 upvotes

It seems that Sony think that the slr-styled body sells more than the typical NEX style. Nikon have said it too. Maybe the slr body design is something very strong in the collective subconscious of photographers, even the superzooms look like mini slrs. Interesting, and the price is really good, this should sell very well.

Comment edited 38 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

Funnily enough Panasonic said the same thing of the G1 back in 2008/2009

> And so we have a new system with a new lens mount and this, the G1; the world's first electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens camera. From the outside it looks for all the world like a conventional SLR (albeit a very small one) - we're told that the design (complete with faux prism 'hump') is deliberately conservative; Panasonic's research has shown that its target market (particularly in Japan) still prefers a camera that looks like a camera is supposed to, and wasn't going to risk falling at the first hurdle by producing something too radical.

1 upvote

A 230k LCD. Wow...

0 upvotes

I wonder if they got them from Leica's old stock ;)

2 upvotes

A 20 MP APS-C sensor with interchangeable lenses for less than $400 at introduction.

That's where you should put the WOW :). What else comes close?

2 upvotes

I guess my point was that you're forced to either use a terrible LCD or terrible OVF... there is no alternative. What if you had to manual focus a macro shot or check focus on a preview without having to zoom in to 10x? I'm all for more affordable APS-C cameras but this seems a cut too far.

0 upvotes

SILLY NAMING CONVENTION

Until now, Alpha stood for interchangeable lenses on the Alpha mount.

This is an Alpha branded camera with a NEX mount. Daft.

There is no upgrade path between this cam and the existing Alpha cams; if you buy this cam and decide to upgrade later to a bigger Alpha cam, you will then have to re-buy all your lenses.

If the idea was to produce a better handling camera for NEX, then they could easily have done that without changing the name to Alpha.

I don't even get the Alpha connection. What is it; just because it looks like an SLR?

Idiotic.

But that aside, it seems like a very good entry level camera at a stupidly good price; Christmas shopping in camera stores is gonna be interesting.

4 upvotes

The mount is the A mount, not the Alpha mount. A for Autofocus, I believe.

All NEX cameras are Alpha cameras - they come from Sony's Alpha division.

3 upvotes

D Cox,

While that may be true, it's not how the general non-gearhead amatuer photographer understands it.
And if you really want to get down to it, it's really the Minolta A-mount. Whether the A stands for autofocus or alpha I don't know, because Minolta labeled the Maxxum cameras Alpha outside of the US. And the A-mount was developed in conjunction with the Alpha/Maxxum camera system if I remember correctly. I'm sure someone will correct me if I got it wrong.

1 upvote

The camera was really stripped down, but Sony certainly did wright with this sensor. Best APS-C in town and starting from iso 100, for pennies. Manual lenses owners (FD and Leica specially) rejoice.

0 upvotes

I have to wonder is the Panny fz200 a better overall bet ?

0 upvotes

It will be lightyears different in IQ.

2 upvotes

> is the Panny fz200 a better overall bet ?

The Lumix FZ200 is to the Sony A3000 as the Leica M4 was to the Yashica Mat-124.

0 upvotes

This isn't such a silly question. Having bought last year an Olympus xz-1 I very rarely carrying my Pentax k10 with me. The performance of these small sensors is so good that I don't think you can draw a comparisons like you could with different film sizes.

2 upvotes

The Olympus at least has a reasonably big sensor. The Panasonic does not AND it has a huge lens so IQ will suffer further.

Honestly if you are satisfied with an XZ-1 for IQ good for you but a lot of people will be happy with only a modern DSLR.

0 upvotes

No, I don't think it is a silly question! The FZ200 is a much better camera at least up to ISO 800. Beyond ISO 800 the IQ advantage of the A3000 isn't too great because of the slow F/5.6 at telephoto setting. In contrast, the FZ200 lens has a constant F/2.8 aperture, and a much greater zoom range.

1 upvote

I hope you are joking. My friend has a FZ200. The photos that camera takes with its tiny sensor is no match for any modern DSLR.

0 upvotes

It appears the size specs are wrong.

0 upvotes

I would be more likely to take a camera like this in all conditions and not fear damaging it...in other words, the price point almost insures the camera with the thought of "if it is damaged, at least I only spent $400 vs...

Camera owners, I believe, tend to covet their equipment and protect the costs invested.

To add, the focus peaking counterbalances the low res LCD....these days my eyes are failing so I don't appreciate the downgrade so much. I wonder if other enthusiasts will consider that exchange.

1 upvote

The highest ISO is 1600.

1600 is fine. Just seems an odd thing to limit when high ISO is a selling point. I think. I figure the sensor would be capable at higher ISO..?

- - I see. Don't think I have seen that figure listed for maximum. I misread it as 1600. 16k should work!

Comment edited 10 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

The highest is 16,000. Add a zero or 3 and a third stops.

3 upvotes

Very interesting.....creating a body to look like a DSLR so that a NEX competes with the DSLRs.

In analysis, if this has all the parts of NEX 3n at $400 then the low quality EVF and LCD is warranted. But, how much is it going to add for a modern LCD?!!! It's as though, they tried too much to achieve the" three" hundredth digit on its price(/w kit).

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Low quality EVF's are never warranted. They are primary, with no OVF. Sony did not need to leave out a better EVF, to keep the price down! That's a myth.

This is what manufactures do. Form what has already been done, and proved, they never put it all together(photographically = IQ, Price, speeds, controls, weight) ; thus protecting their more overpriced equipment.

Only your buying choice will change that. Not that this camera will not sell like crazy, and "help" pricing; but it still has missing benefits, that are not good. Yes, we can work around them; and I'm not asking for pure perfection. I'm saying its clear; they're not really trying.

0 upvotes

Needs more plastic.

1 upvote

But,wait a sec., so the A3000 Sony is an "E" Mount system cam,same Nex series lenses right? Now what about "A" Mount ?? Can this cam carry the "A" mount?? or not? Or will Sony make another cam specific for "A" mount"..? I'm puzzled..

0 upvotes

Yeah, the cam is easily adaptable to A-mount using any of the three fully electronic adapters offered by Sony. Don't ask, it's magic.

0 upvotes

NEX means straight lines and alpha means curved lines.

0 upvotes

The camera shown above is marked Alpha 3000, not A3000.

One is a Greek letter, the other is a Latin letter.

0 upvotes

Some jpg photos taken with the A3000 are at:

http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/19-pictures-a3000-zeiss1670-f4_topic100871_page1.html

These are with the new Zeiss lens - not the 18-55 kit lens - but begin to show what the camera is capable of.

Not bad for a $300 camera body.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Not bad for a $1000 lens, all APS-C sensors perform pretty similarly :-)

4 upvotes

Kind of brilliant. Really affordable for kids, students, first time system users, or those who are intimidated by technology but want the serious looks of a "real" camera. In the USA, people want something that says "I mean business." But they don't really mean business--but they want the image to match their huge pickups and SUVs. This gets them what they want for much cheaper than the competition. Alongside the SL1 and D3000 it might be hard to resist for the masses.

9 upvotes

Pickups? SUVs? Interesting. When I go to the gun range in Orlando I always see a ton of Europeans soaking up the USA. Maybe "the masses" will like a camera they can hold on to, and won't feel the need to cling to mediocrity while they look down their nose at others.

0 upvotes

Sheep on Wolf's clothing?
It will sell due to the price, but is incredibly stripped down.

2 upvotes

It's not stripped down. The features are adequate to the price.

7 upvotes

Stripped down compared to a higher-specced what now at a higher price?

Stripped down suggests there was something to strip down from to begin with.

0 upvotes

I love Sony's panoramic sweep feature. I use it all the time on a Sony compact pocket camera I own, especially when traveling. The fact that this Sony does panoramic sweep, and none of my Canon DSLRs do...well, that's one point where the Canon's seem "stripped down" in comparison.

Besides, do you really think that the average entry-level consumer even uses a fraction of the features and specs that are available in most cameras? LOL. Nope.

2 upvotes

Weird...while Oly and Panny makes DSLR styled bodies their flagship modle...Sony makes it their budget model...

Anyways, at $400, I think it's extremely competitive.

9 upvotes

Panasonic also does the G series, which is fairly low priced. I think this is what this genre needs ... manufacturers have been trying to sell p&s upgraders on a big p&s assuming they want the point & shoot experience with better IQ. This camera addresses those who want a (more) DSLR-like experience (at least a body they can hold with two hands and put up to their eye, especially if they're over 40 and not wearing their reading glasses). When a consumer looks at entry level DSLRs for $550 versus entry level ILCs that look like their old point & shoot with a lens strapped on, the ILC looks like it doesn't offer much for the money. A built in EVF is long overdue in this market segment.

1 upvote

Do the headline in any way refer to Michael Wolf ? ;)

0 upvotes

See some pictures taken with this camera? http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/19-pictures-a3000-zeiss1670-f4_topic100871.html

4 upvotes

I think Dpreview has it totally wrong.
Excellent sensor.
MSRP $399 with kit lens.
The A3000 will fly off the shelves no matter what the LCD/EVF resolution. The fact that it has both is an asset!

12 upvotes

But isn't that pretty much what DPR did say?

> As we said in the introduction, though, it's still a pretty good deal if you can get past the LCD, and just might move more units than one would expect, especially with the holiday shopping season approaching. We hope to get a shipping version soon, so check back to see if the image quality overcomes our reservations about the displays.

1 upvote

Yes the tone of the dpr article is all wrong. However dpr, like photographic equipment collectors who live on this site, does not deeply like change, and this is a big change. If you look at the dpr story on the first Nex cameras (3&5) and compare that to the first story on the 5N, you will see that the biggest change was not the cameras but merely the fact that dpr writers had become accustomed to the idea of the Nex. They hated the first and loved the second more than any change in the cameras would possibly justify.

0 upvotes

This is going to be successful, not because of quality but because of size and numbers. Was recently in London, all the tourists had full size SLR's, with large zooms and big lens hoods, despite the hassle of carrying them and using them on the street. I switched to M43 two years ago, saw one OMD on streets. Even though the camera is better than most SLR's out there for the price with comparable kit, it seems the public still wants "bigger is better"

0 upvotes

The body looks thicker than it needs to be, especially compared to the G6 as the E mount is actually slightly shallower than the m4/3 mount, but I guess larger components come with the lower price.

4 upvotes

Yep. Sony just upped the ante on Canon.

A direct competitor to the 100D (SL1) at approximately half the price.

Well played, Sony.

16 upvotes

This is the product I am looking for. Although this is a low-end model, the price is low too. I expect it work perfectly with my Metabone Speed Booster and my C/Y lenses. Look forward to an A7000 with metal body, more hard bottons, advanced peaking function, bigger EVF and tilt LCD.

2 upvotes

I awaited a mirrorless in the NEX-7 style, or even dslr style, like this, but not a low end camera. The 20 mpix sensor is absolutely top, performs better than the 16 mpix, but, the sole 2 camers who have it are A58 and A3000, and both are stripped down low end entry cameras, what does not fits me at all.

1 upvote

naming it Alpha is plain stupid - Anything Sony... Alpha... was until now defined by the Alpha mount!

5 upvotes

Previous E-Mount cameras have been branded "Alpha NEX"

6 upvotes

So, we call those Alpha NOTNEX

5 upvotes

I agree, naming it an Alpha will only confuse people not familiar with Sony's product line-up. Too bad Epsilon is kind of a mouthful.

2 upvotes

Who cares on the end, all is confusing, A3000, so now will appear soon the A3200, I suppose, the A 5000, A 5100, A7000, A 7100, A9000 FF, Just ask myself who they are kidding, or targetting, with those serie numbers.

I gave up on D since a long time, I prefer A. D is not the door to heaven anymore, and A is to my eyes better in technology. I am old fashion in many things, but not when it concerns cameras. Here I want to combine the old to the new.

Come on Nikon, are ya getting old fashion soon?

0 upvotes

Yep. You're gonna be seeing those everywhere.

3 upvotes

I am a Canon guy with 7D and a number of lenses. I can tell you why this camera interests me. 1). The sample images from the Sony NEX cameras really impress me - especially the high ISO shots. They seem far superior to the Canon offering on lower end cameras. 2). I am at the race track once a month and would like to have a camera there without lugging my 7D rig and constantly being worried about where it is, or getting banged up in my truck.

Don't assume this is just for new people. It could be for people impressed with the Sony sensors who also want something likely capable of taking great images in a "beater" camera that's a $400 risk if lost or stolen.

I have looked thru the EVF of the NEX camera. If it is the same or better, I'm buying this.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 3 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

It's not better.

0 upvotes

Yeah, just saw that. Thanks.

0 upvotes

Hmmmm A9000 more controls+full frame [sensor same as RX1] + smaller form factor+ Vertical Grip... ill go back to sleep wishing someday would be a reality.

0 upvotes

I can live without the FF sensor, but not without all the commands that make Nex-7 the camera I like. I just wait for GX-NEX 7. Not only does the GX looks like NEX-7 twin brother with better features and a lot of things I would like the NEX to have, they called it GX-7, Why? Well ...........

0 upvotes

It might look like a DSLR, does it focus as fast as a DSLR?

1 upvote

It will focus as fast as the NEX 3N. You can draw your own conclusion.

3 upvotes

At this price I guess Panasonic G5 will be the direct competitor to this model ($399 with kit and $299 body on Amazon)

0 upvotes

G5 got faster focus, better video, and similar or better low light performance using an f/2.8 zoom against this one with an f/4 zoom.

2 upvotes

@Yabokkie... i have a 5n and a G5. The 5n piledrives the G5 to the floor in lowlight and Video. Your comments just makes me smile.

14 upvotes

"Pildedrives"....That hyperbolemade me smile. G5 has undoubtedly the better video, who are you kidding here? The sensor performance for stills clearly goes to the 5n but it does not piledrive it from my perspective. It is better.

G5 has that eyesensor, has a swiveling LCD with much higher res, probably has better AF and seems to be a well rounded cam where this Sony is cutting corners like the G3 did. I guess i will sell well in the US. It looks serious and wil give nice IQ regardless.

1 upvote

@Yabokkie, since you ow this camera and know some of it to be worse than G5, just tell us some more, smarta..

0 upvotes

G5 is one year old camera, and the launch price of G5 was $700. It obviously didn't do well in market, so they are selling it cheap now to clear stocks. That's not comparable to $399 launch price.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

8 upvotes

Price of entry level consumer cameras drops fast. By Boxing Day imagine how cheap this will be.

0 upvotes

Yabokkie, care to put yourself to shame some more?
You're an obvious fanboy.

0 upvotes

fanboy of m4/3" ?

1 upvote

yabokkie stop trolling, you know you can't make statements about image and video quality without sample images.

0 upvotes

..and make it clear: this is not a NEX camera,this is the cheapest apsc,evf fitted camera for sale today,as simple as that.

4 upvotes

Its a NEX 3N, retrofitted with the Alpha A58 sensor, and put in a shrunk version of an A58 body. Oh, and it has the NEX user interface. Its more NEX than Alpha, clearly, no matter what brand they put on it. Actually putting Alpha on it is a bit dumb, if the buyers of this then buy a second lens, they might be confused about what mount type they need on the lens.

5 upvotes

This is the most HONEST offer ever made in the camera business! 50% of the camera models are cheating the consumer,certainly not this one.
Also..a smart move for the US market where everybody loves big and cheap-cars,house appliances,plastic boops! etc,etc..the main reason nex fail to sell in the States vs Europe and Asia being the dimentions and quality!!
What's a more ineresting entry in the world of big sensors ,ideal for a Christmas gift for youngsters?

15 upvotes

@Dimit
It's O.K. to be jealous!

0 upvotes

I understand (but hate) the marketing imperative that spawned this camera: make it look like something that it isn't.
So it looks like an SLR, and the "pro" associations of that 'look' will be enough to sell the camera. Never mind the unhappy paradox that they stymied the stand-out advantage of SLR design, the viewfinder.

2 upvotes

the users should be blamed
for such stupid things like SLR style or viewfinder

2 upvotes

I don't get it. Why offer NEX specs in an SLR body ? I am genuinely perplexed.

1 upvote

Because a lot of people love SLR bodies :)

1 upvote

I think this is more about offering a an SLR body with a Sony E-mount. It will allow people to get into SLR-type cameras at a cheaper price point, and offer NEX users a more funtional body for the lenses they already own.

4 upvotes

Its like why Harley Davidson & Jeep keep similar-looking models for decades = it is what people expect.

Remember the year - 1987 - that Jeep put square headlights on the Wrangler YJ - nicknamed "Wrongler" - and got backlash from the faithful that "Real Jeeps have round headlights!"

If people are going to be put-off buying good picture-taking electronics because it is housed in a 'non-traditional', rectangular-shaped camera, then why not try seeing if they are more likely to buy the same internals in a 'traditional' form-factor?

0 upvotes

Yesss... I see this asa serious threat to Canon & Nikon, challenging them to finally re-think their reluctance of not wanting to seriously go down the APS-C and FF mirrorless route. The EOS M and Nikon 1 were feeble attempts at skinny dipping in the pool of MILC without taking the plunge.

Now that Sony is really putting pressure on the Rebels and D3xxx series, me thinks Canon & Nikon can no longer hold back. The price difference between this A3000 and the entry-level DSLRs is substantial and cannot be ignored. If they do, Sony is likely to put a serious dent in their market share.

I'm curious to see if they introduce an "A5000" series that competes directly with the Nikon D5200, but priced at the D3200 level. Now THAT would really be something.

6 upvotes

Is it a catchall? Perhaps planned to entice would-be users of a better future machine? You can buy one now and gradually kit yourself out with nice Cosina/Zeiss lenses made for the mount and then "upgrade" to a better body-but trapped in the world of APS-C?

Covering all possibilities Sony again seems to be refusing to accept that the way forward for everybody is 36x24mm sized sensors. Their useless RX1 full-frame £2000 machine with no viewfinder? A "rangefinder" with no viewfinder, when the NEX-7 series finder would do perfectly? But releasing E-mount small sensor lenses and ignoring the Leica type market at full-frame level? Questions, Questions: its a jack-of-all-trades, master of none philosophy that maybe fits well into our lost and confused modern world, but I live on another planet and it makes no sense to me. Its just to maintain the market for APS-C? Nah, we,ve all got at least one already- so?

0 upvotes

APS-C is not really being "trapped" for the majority of users. It provides all the IQ most will ever need - and will get even better.

Anyway Sony will bring out FF E-mount cameras for those who feel the need for a larger sensor - so it's no more of a trap than buying an APS-C DSLR.

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

You are pre-supposing that anyone buying one of these will buy any additional lenses....

1 upvote

Let's see what happens after the full review, and I hope they use the new lens (18-105 or 15-70) (18-55 is %^$#* lens). If this camera deliver good quality pictures and the ergonomics make it comfortable to small-medium hands size, it will be a serious contender to gain a good market share and will put canon and nikon to re-think strategies (price and up-grades). For sure all we users independently of the brand that we use will win in the long term).

0 upvotes

The E-mount kit lens 18-55 looks more balanced on this body. Also the newly announced 18-105 or old 18-200 lenses should also feel better on this type of body.

1 upvote

a camera for clueless noobs.

what is important on a DSLR and why we love it?
-> the great optical viewfinder.

this one is bulky without any reason....

Comment edited 60 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

I prefer a good EVF over an OVF all the time.

6 upvotes

Too small and people complain its too small and doesn't handle well.

0 upvotes

EVF is probably already at least as good as the penta-mirror viewfinders in the entry level DSLRs this is competing against - and it can show more information

@Stitzer23 - Funny - some people are saying it's too small and others saying it's too bulky. I'll bet no one making these comments has actually held the camera yet.

Comment edited 7 minutes after posting

5 upvotes

Its amazing how its form factor + paper specs is already causing too much praise and hype. Its worse than a 3N which is sold for cheap and better in many ways but the form factor is doing its job...clever marketing ruse but dpreviews preview did all it needed to do in revealing its pure plastic EVF eye piece. Also the preview has made it clear it feels cheap when DPR fails to say the same for other cameras I already consider to feel cheap. So it is definitely a try before buy camera. Shoots slower than a tepid 3N, much larger, and not cheaper than the 3N and LCD is even worse than the already lower specced 3N...

Really do not see the pure plastic eye piece giving good impressions to anyone except the uninitiated.

1 upvote

Dude. Calm down. You'll wet your bed otherwise.

5 upvotes

Very cheap for a ASP-C. I wonder if you add $600 if it would be possible
with a FF sensor size camera for $999?

1 upvote

that won't change much with a same small aperture lens.

0 upvotes

Im curious to see a mix of the SLR shape with NEX7 controls. Ahhh the lenses are so nice! keep em coming, GO Sony!!!

0 upvotes

A shame they had to cut a decent EVF and eye sensor to hit their price point, it would have made it easier to recommend as a cross-sell to entry level DSLRs... But this probably isn't 'it' for the NEX/Alpha mash-up. I guess this probably spells the beginning of the end for 'A' mount. But maybe that means I'll be able to afford a (cut price, end of line) full frame body sooner rather than later.

1 upvote

More like Sheep in Wolf's clothing...

I assume that this was launched at the same time as more huge E-mount lenses so that there is finally an E-mount camera that doesn't look & handle ridiculously behind them.

But an EVIL camera bigger than Canon's SL1? Might appeal to the ultra-budget-conscious, but not to me...

Just think, if Pentax had priced the K-01 at $400 they could have beaten Sony to the punch long ago :-)

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 8 minutes after posting

7 upvotes

this camera is for clueless noobs who should go and buy a P&S.

so i guess sony users will like it.....

2 upvotes

it's better business to deal with clueless noobs.
smart guys can go away.

5 upvotes

With slight problem that K01 used K-mount. That meant that that camera had ZERO lenses that were optimized for CDAF, the only AF system available on K01.

There was no EVF either, but lets ignore that. The first argument above (no CDAF optimized lenses) was a serious flaw by itself.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

5 upvotes

Those huge lenses you talk about are designed with the FS video cameras in mind. Just Google FS100 or FS700.

4 upvotes

"if Pentax had priced the K-01 at $400"

Yeah, I know!
If Porsche sold the 911 for 10k, everyone would have one.
Wouldn't that be awesome?

2 upvotes

The benefits of an interchangeable lens camera with a large sensor are the very reasons amateurs get terrible pictures from them. At least two of my friends were sucked in by the 'pro' look of an SLR, and their photos are far worse than other friends who use ancient compact cameras on auto and take care over framing. If you understand nothing about how aperture affects depth of field, this kind of camera will give you lousy photos half the time. This camera is cynical and marketing-led and the people who buy it will be getting the wrong kind of camera for them. They need a reliable auto mode, a fast lens and a small sensor. And most of them already have that on their phones. if you want a viewfinder, get a Panasonic LF1. At least if fits in your pocket.

9 upvotes

Impressive!

Well done Sony!

To be significant in the future you need to catch the young ones.

16 upvotes

Ugly and bulky imo. And cheap of course!

6 upvotes

It is ugly and bulky only because most people think that only ugly and bulky cameras can make good pictures :)

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

15 upvotes

you're very right, unfortunately. But there are also ppl thinking the new gx7 is very good looking, and I'm among those. I'm not into m4/3, otherwise I'd go the gx7 route immediately, over Olympus.

I really hope Samsung goes the opposite route than Sony. NX20 is now in the shape of a dslr and so is the announced galaxy nx. I hope NX30 will be in the form of a modern rangefinder.

1 upvote

Looks more like a Bridge camera to me, very cheap look, including LCD. The upgrade path thinking is okay, but it could backfire when people regard the camera as too cheap and don't buy.

1 upvote

If it is too cheap - just wait for A-5000 or A-7000

2 upvotes

Total comments: 656

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