Sony has launched an entry-level interchangeable lens camera with the general appearance and features usually associated with a DSLR. The Sony Alpha A3000 uses the same lens mount as Sony’s E-mount cameras, giving the flexibility and choice offered by a DSLR, but with a simplified interface for inexperienced photographers.
Using a 20.1-megapixel Exmor APS-C HD CMOS sensor used in other DSLRs, the A3000 is capable of taking full HD video, uses a 25-point autofocus system, and offers an electronic viewfinder with 100-percent field coverage and a 3-inch LCD on the back. With an ISO range of 100 to 16,000, a 3.5fps burst mode, and a hotshoe, the A3000 also provides automatic object framing for instant cropping of images, 15 different picture effects, and an easy to understand menu system.
Sony will be shipping the A3000 with an accompanying 18-55mm lens for around $400 in early September.