Sony has today announced the ILCE-3000, the company’s first mirrorless camera encased in a conventional DSLR body.
Front view of the new a3000 with the built-in flash raised. (Source: Sony.)
The new camera claims to provide the picture quality, manual controls and artistic possibilities of a DSLR in an easy to use camera body. It features an APS-C Exmor sensor with 20.1 effective megapixels and cones with integrated SteadyShot stabilisation technology. Comfortable to hold and offering plenty of creative controls, the a3000 has a crisp, clear Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder with 100% frame coverage plus a newly-designed grip that adds to the feeling of comfort, security and balance in the user’s hands. It supports Full HD video recording with a choice of 50i or 25p shooting modes for crisp action or a smooth cinematic look to match different subject’s demands.
In-camera controls include a palette of 15 artistic Picture Effects that includes Retro Photo, Miniature and Partial Colour. Auto Object Framing neatly trims portraits, close-ups and even moving subjects for tighter, more professional results. An instant preview of tweaks to exposure and white balance settings makes it easier to compose shots with confidence and optional grid lines can be displayed in the viewfinder to help keep horizons level.
Top view of the new a3000. (Source: Sony.)
The a3000 can be teamed with an increasing range of E-mount interchangeable lenses, along with accessories that can be added via the Multi Interface Shoe to expand shooting options. These include the powerful new HVL-F43M flash with Sony’s unique Quick Shift Bounce system, the ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone and the battery-powered HVL-LEIR1 Video IR light. The new a3000 interchangeable lens camera from Sony is available in Australia from September 2013 at an SRP of AU$499. For more information, visit www.sony.com.au.
Key specifications
Key specifications
|
Camera Type |
Interchangeable lens digital camera with built-in flash |
|
Lens compatibility |
Sony E-mount lenses |
|
Sensor |
APS-C type (23.2 x 15.4mm), ‘Exmor’ APS HD CMOS sensor with Approx. 20.1 megapixels (effective) |
|
Recording format |
JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format) |
|
Image quality modes |
RAW+JPEG/JPEG Fine/JPEG Standard |
|
Picture Effect |
11 types (15 variations): Posterisation (Colour, B/W), Pop Colour, Retro Photo, Partial Colour (R,G,B,Y), High Contrast Mono, Toy Camera, Soft High-key, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Mono, Miniature |
|
Recording format |
AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant |
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MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) |
|
|
Audio recording format |
Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2ch |
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Movie recording system (AVCHD) |
1920 x 1080 (50p, 28M, PS), Approx.28Mbps (Max bit-rate); 1920 x 1080 (50i, 24M, FX), Approx. 24Mbps;1920 x 1080 (50i, 17M, FH), Approx. 17Mbps;1920 x 1080 (25p, 24M, FX), Approx. 24Mbps;1920 x 1080(25p, 17M, FH), Approx. 17Mbps |
|
Media |
“Memory Stick PRO Duo”/”Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo”/”Memory Stick XC-HG Duo”/SD memory card/SDHC memory card/SDXC memory card |
|
Focus system |
Contrast-detection AF with 25 points and Tracking Focus |
|
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) |
Still images: ISO100 to 16000, AUTO (ISO100 to 3200), Movies:ISO100 to 3200 equivalent, AUTO(ISO100 to 3200 equivalent) |
|
Viewfinder |
0.5cm (0.2type) electronic viewfinder (colour) with 201600 dots, 100% FOV coverage |
|
Monitor |
7.5cm (3.0-type) wide type TFTLCD with 230,400 dots |
|
Other features |
TRILUMINOS Colour; Face Detection; Smile Shutter; Auto Object Framing; Auto HDR; Handheld Twilight Mode; Sweep Panorama; Anti Motion Blur Mode |
|
Digital zoom |
Smart zoom (Still images) – M: approx. 1.4x, S: approx 2x; Digital zoom – Approx. 4x (stills and movie) |
|
Built-in flash |
Guide No.4 (in meters at ISO 100); coverage to 16mm (focal-length printed on the lens body) |
|
Drive Speed (approx., max.) |
Continuous mode: max. 2.5 fps; Speed Priority Continuous shooting: max. 3.5 fps |
|
Battery capacity |
Approx. 460 images(Viewfinder), Approx. 470 images(LCD screen) (CIPA standard) |
|
Dimensions (WxHxD) |
Approx. 128.0 x 90.9 x 84.5 mm |
