Sony A3000 vs Sony RX100 VA

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Sony A3000 vs Sony RX100 VA

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APS-C 357.3mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A3000 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A3000 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A3000.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A3000 conclusion.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 VA Review.

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Differences

Sony A3000 advantages over Sony RX100 VA

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.25 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

470 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Sony RX100 VA advantages over Sony A3000

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
41 mm vs 84 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
6 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Higher-res screen
307k vs 77k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.59x vs 0.47x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Faster JPEG shooting
23.9 fps vs 3.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
233 vs 11 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Read A3000 User Reviews

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Sony RX100 VA

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Review Excerpt

Absolutely incredible value; Includes a stabilized kit lens; More versatile than a fixed-lens bridge camera; Comfortable body with good ergonomics; Great image quality; Good autofocus performance; Decent battery life.
Feels a bit plasticky; Slow burst shooting with limited buffer; Sluggish to power on or switch modes; Low-res EVF and LCD monitor; Can't review images using EVF; No video output; Weak flash; Battery charges in-camera.
Read our Sony A3000 Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony RX100 VA.
Read our Sony RX100 VA Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-01

Sony A3000

Pentax K-01

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A3000 vs Pentax K-01

Sony RX100 VA

Pentax K-01

$998
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

$359
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Pentax K-01

Compared to Sigma sd Quattro

Sony A3000

Sigma sd Quattro

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

$699
APS-C

On-sensor phase detect
HDMI out

Compare Sony A3000 vs Sigma sd Quattro

Sony RX100 VA

Sigma sd Quattro

$998
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Sigma sd Quattro

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Sony A3000

Canon EOS M5

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

$679
APS-C

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony A3000 vs Canon EOS M5

Sony RX100 VA

Canon EOS M5

$998
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$679
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Canon EOS M5

Compared to Sony RX100 V

Sony A3000

Sony RX100 V

$500
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$998
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A3000 vs Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 V

$998
1 inch

Bigger JPEG buffer
Bigger RAW buffer

$998
1 inch

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Sony RX100 V

Compared to Sony ZV-1

Sony A3000

Sony ZV-1

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$800
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A3000 vs Sony ZV-1

Sony RX100 VA

Sony ZV-1

$998
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Internal flash

$800
1 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Sony ZV-1

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