Clicky

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Released March 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX270 HS
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
  • Launched August 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony a3500
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Canon SX280 HS and Sony A3000, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and A3000 (20MP) and the SX280 HS (1/2.3") and A3000 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The SX280 HS was launched 5 months prior to the A3000 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the SX280 HS scores versus the A3000 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Sony A3000

 SX280 HS A3000 
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Canon SX280 HS

 A3000 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Sony A3000

 SX280 HS A3000 
LaunchedMarch 2013August 2013Similar generation
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX280 HS offers physical measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony A3000 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX280 HS and Sony A3000 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the A3000.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX280 HS and A3000 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX280 HS and A3000.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SX280 HS featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A3000 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images more aggressively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography info
Sony A3000 Portrait photography info
34
manual focus
features face detect focusing
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography information
Sony A3000 Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (233g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (411 grams)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography features
Sony A3000 Sports photography features
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
60
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (470 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX280 HS
Travel photography with Sony A3000
61
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (210 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
great battery pack (470 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (411 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX280 HS
Landscape photography with Sony A3000
41
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery (210 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (470 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A3000 as a Vlogging camera
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
26
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (411g)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Sony A3000
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSSony Alpha A3000
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Sony Alpha A3000
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-03-21 2013-08-27
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 BIONZ image
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Microphone 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233g (0.51 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 1068
Other
Battery life 210 pictures 470 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $325 $398