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Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65

Portability
69
Imaging
51
Features
36
Overall
45
Nikon D3000 front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
85
Overall
72

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Key Specs

Nikon D3000
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 536g - 126 x 97 x 64mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Previous Model is Nikon D40
  • Newer Model is Nikon D3100
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Successor is Sony A68
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Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the D3000 (10MP) and A65 (24MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The D3000 was brought out 23 months earlier than the A65 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the D3000 matches up versus the A65 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3000 over the Sony A65

 D3000 A65 

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Nikon D3000

 A65 D3000 
AnnouncedNovember 2011December 2009More recent by 23 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3000 and Sony A65

 D3000 A65 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon D3000 comes with external dimensions of 126mm x 97mm x 64mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 536 grams (1.18 lbs) whilst the Sony A65 has specifications of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check the Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the D3000 compared to the A65.

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D3000 and A65 is 69 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading specifications. The photograph here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the D3000 and A65.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Sony A65 to deliver greater detail having its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older D3000 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3000 Portrait photography info
Sony A65 Portrait photography info
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
78
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3000 as a Street photography camera
Sony A65 as a Street photography camera
58
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3000 Sports photography highlights
Sony A65 Sports photography highlights
39
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery life (500 shots)
82
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A65 as a Travel photography camera
45
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (500 shots)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3000 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A65 as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
low battery life (500 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3000 Vlogging highlights
Sony A65 Vlogging highlights
9
no video shooting
78
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
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Nikon D3000 vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3000 and Sony A65
 Nikon D3000Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3000 Sony SLT-A65
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-12-11 2011-11-15
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3872 x 2592 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 536 gr (1.18 lb) 622 gr (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 126 x 97 x 64mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 62 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 12.6
DXO Low light score 563 717
Other
Battery life 500 images 560 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL9a NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $0 $700