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Canon M3 vs Sony A3000

Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
76
Overall
70
Canon EOS M3 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Replacement is Canon M6
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Newer Model is Sony a3500
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Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Canon M3 and Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the M3 (24MP) and the A3000 (20MP) is fairly similar and both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The M3 was announced 18 months after the A3000 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon M3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the M3 grades against the A3000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Sony A3000

 M3 A3000 
IntroducedFebruary 2015August 2013More modern by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Canon M3

 A3000 M3 

Common features in the Canon M3 and Sony A3000

 M3 A3000 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon M3 offers external measurements of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") along with a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Sony A3000 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check out the Canon M3 and Sony A3000 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the M3 against the A3000.

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M3 and A3000 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The picture underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the M3 and A3000.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Canon M3 to offer more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher M3 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M3 Portrait photography details
Sony A3000 Portrait photography details
79
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
77
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon M3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Street photography camera
79
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
does not have image stabilization
57
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon M3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Sports photography camera
61
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.2 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (250 shots)
60
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (470 shots)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M3 Travel photography info
Sony A3000 Travel photography info
73
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (250 per charge)
60
great battery pack (470 CIPA)
MP count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (411 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon M3
Landscape photography with Sony A3000
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (250 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (470 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M3 Vlogging advice
Sony A3000 Vlogging advice
80
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
26
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic port
heavier than competitors (411g)
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Canon M3 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M3 and Sony A3000
 Canon EOS M3Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS M3 Sony Alpha A3000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-02-06 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 6 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 surface area 332.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF-M Sony E
Number of lenses 23 121
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.2fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 366 gr (0.81 pounds) 411 gr (0.91 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 78
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.8
DXO Low light rating 1169 1068
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 470 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E17 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Price at release $481 $398