Sony A3000; SLT camera with an NEX mount

Sony continues its rather peculiar tradition of blurring the line between MILC and dSLR cameras as the company unveiled the latest addition to its E-mount portfolio, the Sony A3000.

Lens mount aside though, the A3000 is more akin to Sony’s SLT cameras, particularly the SLT-A37, in terms of design compared to its buddies in the E-mount department. The two cameras (A3000 and SLT-a37) have so much in common that one has to look a little closer to identify some of the subtle differences.

Here’s what we’ve noticed so far:

• Less protruding lens mount.
• More rounded profile.
• Shooting mode knob is on the other side (right).
• Full-size hot shoe
• Less conspicuous lens release button.
• Omission of the IR window on the grip.
• Absence of control knob on top of the grip.
• NEX-inspired button layout on the back.
• Non-articulating LCD screen.
• Storage slot is on the left rather than on the battery compartment.

In terms of its photography features, the A3000 has all the basic stuff that you’d typically look for in camera in this class. That includes a 20MP APS-C CMOS sensor, 1080p video recording at 60fps, max shutter speed of 1/4000 and an ISO range of 100-16000 in 1 EV-stop increments.

But the most enticing aspect of the A3000 will have to be probably its price, which is pegged at USD399.99. Sadly, Sony has to cut back on some of its features in order to achieve that pricing. This includes a plastic build, a lackluster electronic viewfinder and its equally disappointing LCD that only has a 230K-dot resolution.

Nevertheless, the new Sony A3000 provides less-demanding consumers with an affordable alternative for the pricey NEX-6/7, when it becomes available starting on the latter part of September.

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