Sony Alpha 3000 review

Mix the build of a DSLT and the NEX E-Mount and you get the Alpha 3000

Reviews
By Amy Davies
published
Sony Alpha a3000 review
The Sony Alpha a3000 is a DSLT crossed with a CSC

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Shallow depth of field effects can be achieved even when using the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

A range of different lenses are now available for Sony E-mount, including a 30mm macro lens.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

The 50mm f/1.8 is a good lens for isolating subjects and portraits.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Colours are vibrant directly from the camera.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Switching to sequential shooting allows you to capture fast moving action.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Setting the autofocus point to a different point in the frame allows you to get creative with depth of field.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

The Sony's 20.1 million pixel sensor is capable of resolving lots of detail.

Sony Alpha a3000

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Two different types of panorama are available, a standard size and a full 360 degree view. It can be difficult to know exactly what is in frame when shooting a panorama.

Creative Styles and Picture Effects

You can choose to shoot with different Picture Effects or Creative Styles to change the look of your photos. Picture Effects cannot be shot in raw format.

Creative Styles

Sony Alpha a3000

Standard

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Vivid

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Portrait

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Landscape

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Sunset

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Black and White

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Picture Effects

Sony Alpha a3000

No Effect

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Toy Camera

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Pop Color

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Posterization

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Retro Photo

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Soft High-Key

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Partial Color

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

High Contrast Mono

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Soft Focus

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

HDR Painting

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Rich-tone Mono

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony Alpha a3000

Miniature

(Click here to see the full resolution image)

Amy Davies
Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar.