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Canon M vs Sony A3000

Portability
89
Imaging
60
Features
65
Overall
62
Canon EOS M front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Canon M vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released July 2012
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Successor is Sony a3500
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Canon M vs Sony A3000 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Canon M and Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the M (18MP) and the A3000 (20MP) is relatively close and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The M was manufactured 13 months prior to the A3000 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the M grades versus the A3000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony A3000

 M A3000 
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Canon M

 A3000 M 
ReleasedAugust 2013July 2012More recent by 13 months

Common features in the Canon M and Sony A3000

 M A3000 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon M vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon M provides physical measurements of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony A3000 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon M and Sony A3000 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the M against the A3000.

Canon M vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M and A3000 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Canon M vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The graphic here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the M and A3000.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony A3000 to render more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older M will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon M vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography features
Sony A3000 Portrait photography features
76
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
77
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon M as a Street photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Street photography camera
72
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon M Sports photography highlights
Sony A3000 Sports photography highlights
55
resolution is good (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
60
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery (470 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography features
Sony A3000 Travel photography features
63
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (18MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
better than average battery (470 shots)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (411 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M Landscape photography factors
Sony A3000 Landscape photography factors
66
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging advice
Sony A3000 Vlogging advice
37
has touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
26
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic port
heavier than competition in class (411g)
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Canon M vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Sony A3000
 Canon EOS MSony Alpha A3000
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS M Sony Alpha A3000
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-07-23 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5 BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 31 25
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF-M Sony E
Available lenses 23 121
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298 grams (0.66 lb) 411 grams (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 65 78
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 12.8
DXO Low light rating 827 1068
Other
Battery life 230 photos 470 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $510 $398