Sony a5000 vs a3000 – An Extensive Comparison

Before us today are two entry-level cameras made by Sony – Sony a5000 vs a3000. These cameras have quite a lot in common, but in this article today, we will be showing you the many ways that they differ, too.

It is going to be a pretty long ride today, as there is indeed quite a lot to say about these cameras, so, make sure to stick with us all the way to the end to get all the juice.

Anyway, if you won’t be able to make it all the way, the next few sections will be helping you decide which of these cameras will better suit your needs. Let us get straight into it!

Comparison Overview — Sony a5000 vs a3000

So, when we said these cameras had a lot in common, we really did mean that. They are both mirrorless, they both come with 20 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensors, and they are obviously made by the same company – in fact, they even belong in the same series.

But how do these cameras differ? Well, first, it must be said that the Sony a5000 is the more recent of the two cameras, and as one would have expected, Sony really stepped up a lot of things with this camera.

For example, if you are looking to get really flexible with your shooting, the Sony a5000 is the better camera for you, as it is the only one with an articulating screen.

Furthermore, the a5000’s performance on burst mode is slightly better than that of the a3000, so, for capturing photos of moving people or objects, again, this would be the better one, even though only slightly.

When we say that Sony stepped up their game with the a5000, we really do mean that. So, not only did Sony add a built-in Wi-Fi, near field communication feature, remote control function, and HDMI output in the Sony a5000, they went on to make the body more compact and more light weight.

This camera weighs more than 50 per cent less than its counterpart in today’s comparison – the Sony a3000 – and it is one camera than can fit into your purse or even your pocket. Amazing!

Now, to be fair, the Sony a3000 actually did not lose to the a5000 in every aspect. In order to make the camera smaller and more compact, Sony decided to jettison the electronic viewfinder in the Sony a5000.

And an electronic viewfinder can be really important, especially if you will be doing a lot of outdoor shooting in the summer. So, do you think the electronic viewfinder is an important feature for you? If yes, then your better choice would be the Sony a3000.

Also, if you are looking for a camera with which to do any form of flash photography, the Sony a3000 is your better option of the two. This camera is the only one that allows you mount on an external flash, so, you are sure to get better lighting when shooting with this camera.

More so, the Sony a3000 has a better battery life than the Sony a5000, so, if you will be shooting for long hours at a stretch, then you know the earlier camera is the better option for you.

Having said all that, it is our opinion that both these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – will be giving you value for your money spent, but the Sony a5000 even more.

This camera comes with more features than its counterpart, and it still manages to be more affordable, so, going for this camera seems like it’ll be a win-win situation for you.

Anyway, there’s more to the features, specifications, and functions of these two cameras, and to make things easy, we will be putting all that in the table below. Check it out!

Comparison Table — Sony a5000 vs a3000

	Sony a5000	Sony a3000
Camera weight	0.593 pounds (269 grams)	0.906 pounds (411 grams)
Camera dimensions	4.33 by 1.42 by 2.48 inches	5.04 by 3.35 by 3.58 inches
Screen resolution	461k dots	230k dots
Tilting screen	Yes	No
Viewfinder	None	Electronic
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	No
Near field communication (NFC)	Yes	No
Battery capacity	420 shots per full charge	470 shots per full charge
Burst mode speed	4 frames per second	3 frames per second
Remote control function	Yes	No
HDMI output	Yes	No
External flash hot shoe	No	Yes

Which Is Better Under What Circumstance?

Sony a5000	Sony a3000
If you want to be able to send files from your camera straight to a device nearby without much stress or hassle, then the Sony a5000 is the one for you. This camera comes with a built-in Wi-Fi, so, you won’t be needing USB cables or any other external device to transfer images and all that. So, thanks to this feature, and also near field communication, transfer of files from the Sony a5000 to a nearby device can be quick, easy, and very efficient.	Like we said, if you plan to do a lot of flash photography, whether at events or anywhere, you would be better off doing that with the Sony a3000. This camera is the only one of the two that allows you attach an external flash, and with an external flash, you can get better lighting, and consequently, better results in flash photography.
For more flexible shooting, we would advise that you go for the Sony a5000. This is because, unlike the a3000, the LCD screen of this camera is quite flexible. You will be able to tilt the screen of the Sony a5000, so that you are able to take better overhead and low angle shots.	The battery of the Sony a3000 lasts quite longer than that of the Sony a5000. So, if you will be shooting for very long hours at a stretch, then it would do you much good to go for the Sony a3000.
If you want a camera you can take with you anywhere and everywhere, then the Sony a5000 is just what you are looking for. This camera is so light, and like we said earlier, it can even fit into your pocket. This makes the Sony a5000 just great for hikes, walks, vacations, and all such activities.	For outdoor shoots – especially during the summer – the better camera of the two to shoot with is the Sony a3000, because it is the only one with an electronic viewfinder. Very bright light hitting your screen makes it really difficult to see what is being displayed on the screen, but thanks to its electronic viewfinder, you won’t have to bother about that with the Sony a3000.

Common Features — Sony a5000 vs a3000

Recall that we told you earlier in this Sony a5000 vs a3000 comparison article that these two cameras have a lot in common. Well, this section is where we show you how much they indeed have in common.

First off, we will be starting from the most basic similarities that exist between these cameras – and that is that they are both entry-level as well as mirrorless cameras.

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Entry-Level Cameras

In the simplest terms, entry-level cameras are cameras made for beginners and/or for personal or amateur use. A typical entry-level camera is very user friendly, so, without much professional knowledge about cameras and photography, you can get on using one without much hassle.

Also, entry-level cameras are usually the most affordable level of cameras there are, of course this is still subject to many other factors, the manufacturing company being the major one.

So, seeing as these two cameras we are looking at here today – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – are entry-level cameras, it is safe to say that they are easy to use. Also, it should not be surprising that they do not cost so much, and do not weigh so much, either.

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Mirrorless Cameras

Compared to the older digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, mirrorless cameras are the new age rivals which do away with the mirror mechanism in order to achieve lighter and more compact bodies. And well, that did work! The average mirrorless camera is lightweight, and more compact than the average DSLR camera.

Now, as mirrorless cameras discarded mirrors, they also discarded optical viewfinders. So, instead of being able to see an exact image of what your camera’s lens is capturing, mirrorless cameras present you with a more modern option of previewing a digital image on the electronic viewfinder.

It must be said, though, that although electronic viewfinders are principally found in mirrorless cameras, not all mirrorless cameras come with one; this is something that has already been made evident in our comparison today. Both these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – are mirrorless, but only one comes with an electronic viewfinder.

The Sony a5000, like many other mirrorless cameras, does not come with any viewfinder at all, however, some mirrorless cameras in the market give you the option of attaching an external one; the a5000 does not.

Mirrorless cameras are great, and in the few years they have been around, they have come a really long way in trying to catch up with the DSLRs. If you want to know more about these mirrorless cameras, and why they are doing so well, especially when compared to DSLRS, check out the video below.

This video breaks down the workings of a mirrorless camera, and then tells you all the amazing things you will be able to do with one. It also goes on to properly differentiate it from a DSLR camera. Just go ahead and watch the video!

So now, let us get into those features that you are sure to see in both these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000.

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Built-In Flash

A built-in flash is a feature that can be very useful when you have to take photos in low light areas. Sometimes, all you really need is that little burst of light to get bright enough images, and that is just what the built-in flash offers.

With any one of these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – shooting in the dark does not have to be so frustrating. All you need do is pop the built-in flash up, and go ahead and get those bright images you desire.

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Auto Exposure Bracketing

Now, here is another feature common to both these cameras that helps you when lighting is not so good. Sometimes, the lighting in the location can be really complicated that it becomes really difficult to decide what setting to shoot with in order to get the best results. Well, this is the dilemma that auto exposure bracketing is here to solve.

This feature, when set, enables your camera take a few different shots, each with a different exposure setting. What this helps you achieve is better efficiency in shooting in such conditions. Now presented with photos of different exposures (without having to do much to get them), you can go on and select the one which best works for you.

Furthermore, auto exposure bracketing is also better suited than manual exposure for HDR photography.

If you want to know more about this auto exposure bracketing feature, and how to set it up on a Sony camera (Sony a6000 precisely), check out the 2 minute video below!

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Face Detection Focus

This is the feature in your camera that brings out all the details in the human faces, and so, makes the photos look really sharp and professional. How it does this is simple, and is evident from its name – it helps your camera detect the human faces and focus on them, basically.

So, if you will be doing a lot of portrait photography, then either one of these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – will surely be doing an amazing job for you.

And also, even if it is a group photograph with many faces, the face detection focus will still be giving you all the details on every face in that photo. Isn’t that just amazing?!

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RAW Support

Are you looking for high quality photos for a magazine or for a billboard? If your answer is yes, then you will be extra grateful for this feature. This is the feature that makes it possible for you to have all the details in your images intact, so that they can be used on such large scales.

Normally, after taking photos, your images would be compressed to the JPEG format in order to maximize the camera’s storage space. But when this compression is done, the quality of the image is greatly reduced, and details are lost in the process.

This might be okay for some small scale photography, but when you are looking to go large scale, you need every detail your camera can muster, and RAW support helps with that.

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Panorama

On either of these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – you are able to capture multiple shots and stitch them together to make one, all thanks to the in-camera panorama features they each come with.

So, if you think this is one way you would like to explore your creativity in photography, you are free to go on and get either one of these cameras.

Unique Features — Sony a5000 vs a3000

So, let us now get into those features that can only be found in one of these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000.

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External Flash Hot Shoe

This would probably be the first difference you notice when you look at the bodies of both these cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000. The Sony a3000 comes with an external flash hot shoe which sits just atop its screen, but this feature cannot be found in the Sony a5000.

This hot shoe is what indicates that your camera is compatible with an external flash. As a matter of fact, like we have mentioned before, this is exactly where the external flash will be mounted.

The presence of this feature in the Sony a3000 (and the absence of it in the a5000) is one of the reasons the a5000 is the more compact one. However, having this feature makes the Sony a3000 the better camera to shoot with in low light, and that makes up for the little extra weight, doesn’t it?

An external flash is a pretty important feature for you if you will be doing a lot of flash photography. So, for the reason that it is the only one of the two cameras that possesses this feature, the Sony a3000 is the better camera for this purpose (flash photography).

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Articulating Screen

This is another difference you would notice without even turning on the cameras yet. The screen of the Sony a300 is fixed, while that of the a5000 is articulating.

An articulating screen is a type of camera LCD screen which can be moved around to certain angles for the purpose of helping the photographer shoot conveniently from rather tough angles.

Now, how an articulating screen moves, and to what angles it does, varies according to cameras. While the LCD screens of some cameras can only be flipped out, some others can only be tilted. Then you have some others that are fully articulated, meaning that they can be swiveled, rotated, and tilted.

Anyway, the screen of the Sony a5000 is a tilting screen, and it can be tilted up to 180 degrees, making the camera a really good one to take selfies with.

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Viewfinder

Now, if you have a clear idea of what a typical digital camera looks like, you might be able to notice the difference that the presence of this feature in one camera (and the absence of it in the other) makes.

The Sony a3000 comes with a viewfinder – an electronic viewfinder to be precise – while the Sony a5000 does not come with any. This is yet another thing that Sony sacrificed in order to make the Sony a5000 really compact, and well, for some, it was so much of a sacrifice.

So, imagine you are on a summer vacation and you want to take a photo of a beautiful sight out in the sun. The truth is if the sun is hitting the screen of your camera, you will not be able to see whatever is showing on it.

This is no problem if the camera you are shooting with is the Sony a3000, because then you can always shoot using the electronic viewfinder. However, with the Sony a5000, you have no respite; surely not good news.

The electronic viewfinder helps you preview your images without having to bother with your camera’s screen when very bright light makes it difficult to see what’s on it.

This feature also makes it possible for you to properly frame your photos before you capture. Generally, one can say that an electronic viewfinder puts you in control of your all round shooting. Interesting!

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Built-In Wi-Fi

This is a feature you will notice when you want to transfer files from your camera to another device. With a built-in Wi-Fi, you can connect a Wi-Fi compatible device to your camera (just like you are connecting to a local hotspot), and then transfer files very easily.

Thanks to this feature, you will no longer be having much need of USB cables, because, as you would have guessed, transferring files over a wireless connection is surely easier, faster, and way more convenient. But guess what, it gets even better!

PS: you will only be getting this speed and convenience in transfer of files with the Sony a5000, as it is the only one of the two cameras – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – with a built-in Wi-Fi.

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Near Field Communication

So, here is how wireless connectivity on the Sony a5000 gets even better. Near field communication (NFC) is a feature that makes it possible for you to create a wireless connection between your camera and a Wi-Fi compatible device, only with one touch. Yes, just one touch!

Now, if your smartphone, for example, is both Wi-Fi and NFC compatible, instead of going through your camera’s settings and all of that to create a connection, you can just touch your smartphone’s NFC icon on the camera’s NFC icon, and just like that, a connection has been created.

With this amazing technology, wireless connectivity is even more interesting. You can transfer files more easily, more quickly, and more conveniently. And of course, this feature is unique to just the Sony a5000.

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HDMI Output

This is one feature that allows you project your camera’s images on to a television screen or a monitor, without having to transfer the images to a middleman first. With an HDMI cable, you can easily connect your camera to a screen and display your camera’s images there.

You will really appreciate this feature when you need to display your photos or videos to a large number of people at this same time. And well, this feature is unique to the Sony a5000, so, it is the only one that will be giving you that level of convenience.

Unique Pros — Sony a5000 vs a3000

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Unique Pros Of The Sony a5000

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More Flexible Shooting

Like we said in the previous section, the Sony a5000 is the only one of these two cameras in comparison today with an articulating screen. As a result of this, you will be able to shoot easily from more flexible angles with the Sony a5000 than with the a3000.

The tilting LCD screen of the Sony a5000 ensures that you can get good overhead or chest level shots without having to go through much hassle.

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Great Vlogging Camera

So, the articulating screen of the Sony a5000 is not only good for overhead and low angle shots, it is also good for selfies. Being able to flip up to 180 degrees upward, the screen of this camera makes it possible for you to take photos or record videos of yourself without needing the help of anyone else; and is there anything a vlogger would love more than this?

So, if you are a vlogger, or a YouTuber, or just someone who loves taking selfies a lot, we need not say more about which of these cameras is the better choice for you.

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More Detail

The Sony a5000 boasts of a 461k dots screen resolution, which is actually not very amazing, but for an entry-level camera, is pretty decent.

As a matter of fact, the resolution screen of this camera is a hundred per cent higher than what you get with its counterpart in today’s comparison – the Sony a3000.

Well, what this means for you the photographer is more detail, and better eventual image quality.

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Wireless Connectivity

In this new age, connectivity, for the most part of it, is wireless, and having a camera that is moving in that direction is surely a very welcome idea. Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi that the Sony a5000 comes with, you can now abandon USB cables and opt for this easier option in transferring files.

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Near Field Communication

So, like we said, the near field communication (NFC) technology further makes the process of connecting your Sony a5000 camera to smartphone even easier. You can skip a couple of steps in the connection process and head straight in with only one touch. It really does not get easier than that.

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Remote Control

In addition to being able to more conveniently transfer files, the built-in Wi-Fi feature also grants access to this very interesting function.

After creating a wireless connection between your Sony a5000 and nearby smartphone, you can use that smartphone to conduct a shoot with your camera.

Basically, the smartphone you wirelessly connected to your camera acts as a remote controlling device, so, you can access some of that camera’s features and functions without actually making contact with the camera. Amazing!

Now, the video below does a quick hands on review of the Sony a5000. This video will be telling you about the workings of the camera, and it will also be telling you some of the things it can be used for. Check it out already.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXCnpQNbZ2Q

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Unique Pros Of The Sony a3000

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Frame Images

The Sony a3000, unlike the a5000, comes with an electronic viewfinder, which makes it possible to preview and frame your photos before capturing them.

Furthermore, like we mentioned earlier in this Sony a5000 vs a3000 comparison article, the electronic viewfinder is one that will be saving you a lot of trouble on days when you have to shoot outdoors when the sun is out.

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Better Option For Flash Photography

So, we have already established that each of these cameras in comparison today – Sony a5000 vs a3000 – comes with a built-in flash. However, it has to be said that in some situations, that flash will not suffice for what you hope to achieve; one of those situations is when you have to do flash photography.

The light you get from a built-in flash is not sufficient to give you the best results in flash photography. This is why an external flash is usually required for optimal performance and much better results.

Coming with an external flash hot shoe, the Sony a3000 is the only one of the two that gives you that option of advancing your camera’s lighting beyond what the built-in flash offers.

Therefore, if you are looking to do a lot of flash photography, the Sony a3000 is the one we would recommend to you, because you can easily get an external flash, mount it on this camera’s hot shoe, and get the very amazing results you desire.

Unique Cons — Sony a5000 vs a3000

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Unique Cons Of The Sony a5000

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No Viewfinder

The Sony a5000 does not come with a viewfinder, and does not even give you an option to attach an external one. While this helps in making the camera more compact, you will, because of this, miss out on the control and convenience that this feature gives photographers while they shoot with one.

And by now you must already know that shooting with the Sony a5000 in direct sunlight might not be a very pleasant experience. This is because the sun bouncing on the camera’s screen would make it really difficult to go on shooting when there is no viewfinder.

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No External Flash Hot Shoe

You basically will not be able to enhance your camera’s lighting beyond what the built-in flash provides, because the Sony a5000 does not come with a hot shoe on which an external flash can be mounted.

This also means that the Sony a5000 is perhaps not your best camera option for flash photography.

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Unique Cons Of The Sony a3000

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No Articulating Screen

Like we have earlier mentioned, the Sony a3000 comes with a fixed screen, which means that you will not be able to tilt, rotate, nor flip this camera’s screen for more convenient and flexible shooting.

When you consider the fact that you might sometimes want to take photos or record videos of yourself without the help of anybody else, you realize that an articulating screen is one feature that would have been just awesome on this camera.

So well, basically, you won’t be getting that much convenience when you want to take shots from very high or very low angles with the Sony a3000. Also, this camera is not a very good one for vlogging. Not very exciting!

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Low Resolution Screen

You get only 230k dots of screen resolution with the Sony a3000, and this is not impressive, even for an entry-level camera. As a matter of fact, this camera’s screen resolution is basically half of what you get with the Sony a5000, which itself is also an entry-level camera.

So, basically, this will be affecting the amount of detail you can capture in the images taken with this camera.

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No HDMI Output

The Sony a3000 does not come with an HDMI output, which means that there really is no shortcut to projecting your camera’s images on to a screen, or any other bigger display.

You will need a middle man (say a laptop), because this camera does not give you the option of connecting the camera to a screen with an HDMI cable.

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No Built-In Wi-Fi

Without a built-in Wi-Fi, the Sony a3000 does not allow you create a wireless connection with a nearby device. So, basically, to transfer files, you would need an external hardware (perhaps a USB cable), and that does not give you as much ease and convenience as the built-in Wi-Fi does.

More so, unlike with some cameras that allow you use an external device (like an Eye-Fi card, for example) to achieve wireless connectivity, the Sony a3000 does not allow for that. This means that when it comes to the topic of wireless connectivity, the Sony a3000 leaves you totally stranded.

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No Near Field Communication

So, not only does the Sony a5000 edge the a3000 by coming with a built-in Wi-Fi, with the near field communication (NFC) technology, it goes further to offer extra convenience that one obviously cannot get with the latter camera.

Well, seeing as we have already established that the Sony a3000 does not come with a built-in Wi-Fi, it was expected that it also would not come with NFC, because the latter needs the earlier to function.

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No Remote Control Function

This is yet another thing you will be missing out on with the Sony a3000 as a result of its lack of a built-in Wi-Fi.

Basically, you will not be able to remotely control this camera with a smartphone, because well, you cannot even create a wireless connection between that device and this camera in the first place.

As you must have been able to figure out from earlier in the article, the remote control function is a very fun one; one that guarantees much convenience and ease in shooting. So, perhaps this could be one of those ones that you would call a big miss in the Sony a3000.

Common Pros — Sony a5000 vs a3000

	Sony a5000	Sony a3000
Big prints	The Sony a5000 is a 20 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor camera, and all that basically means that it will be doing really well at capturing big prints in your images. If you will be using your images on really large scales, then this is one thing you will be really thankful for. A camera with a sensor this impressive will be capturing a lot of details in the images, and basically, will be producing high quality photos and videos.	The Sony a3000, just like the Sony a5000, is a 20 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor camera. So, of course, with this camera you will be getting results just as amazing as what we already described you will be getting with the Sony a5000.
Good image quality	So, not only will this camera be helping you capture images with lots of details and big prints, it also gives you the option of storing those images in their highest qualities. Thanks to RAW support, you can decide to not compress your photos to the JPEG format, and have all the details in your images intact.	The Sony a3000, like the a5000, comes with RAW support, so, with this camera, you can also take photos and have them store without having them compressed.
Good HDR photography	The auto exposure bracketing feature that the Sony a5000 comes with ensures that you can shoot more efficiently in difficult lighting situations. It also makes sure that you can do HDR photography easily and without much hassle.	The Sony a3000 also comes with auto exposure bracketing, and thanks to this, you will be able to get amazing results in HDR photography with this camera.
Good portrait photography	With face detection focus, you are sure that you will be taking lovely portrait photos with the Sony a5000.	The Sony a3000 also comes with the face detection focus feature, which means that it will also be doing well in portrait photography.
Good lighting	The Sony a5000 comes with a built-in flash, so, when shooting in low light, you can easily just pop up this flash and get the bright images you desire.	This camera also provides you with a built-in flash. But it does one better by also providing you with an option of enhancing the camera’s lighting using an external flash. This is one thing you won’t be getting with the a5000.
Creative shooting	The Sony a5000 allows you get creative with your shooting by providing you with an in-camera panorama app. With this one, your camera can make one photo out of a number of different ones you have taken.	You also get the in-camera panorama app with the Sony a3000.
Affordable	One thing that makes this camera a good entry-level camera is that it does not cost so much. The price of the Sony a5000 is just around the half a thousand dollar mark, so, you know this is one camera that won’t be eating deep into your pocket.	The Sony a3000 costs a little more than the Sony a5000, but it is still a budget friendly camera.
Light weight	Another thing that makes this camera an ideal entry-level camera is its light weight. This camera weighs less than 300 grams, so, we believe you won’t mind carrying this one everywhere with you.	The Sony a3000 weighs slightly more than the Sony a5000, but weighing less than a pound itself, this is one camera that you sure can refer to as lightweight.

Common Cons — Sony a5000 vs a3000

	Sony a5000	Sony a3000
No image stabilization	The Sony a5000 does not have the image stabilization feature. What this means is that at whatever shutter speed you are shooting at, this camera will not be able to reduce the effects of camera shakes on the eventual images. When your camera shakes or moves slightly while you shoot with it, there is a very huge probability that the images you get will end up looking blurry and sketchy. This is usually what image stabilization is there to correct, but without this feature in this camera, it means that you will have to be extra careful while you shoot. But really, how careful can a photographer be to not shake even a bit when shooting without a stand? For us, this is one feature you will gravely miss in this camera.	You will also be missing the image stabilization feature in the Sony a3000. This camera does not come with the feature either, so, the effects of camera shakes will be very evident in photos taken with this camera, too.
No touch screen	Perhaps this would not be much of an issue for more professional cameras, but for an entry-level camera, it could be. One of the things that makes a camera entry-level is the amount of ease in operation that it offers its users, and of course, a touch screen is one feature that guarantees that ease. You know, being able to access your camera’s features just by tapping on the screen is a different level of convenience, and one you will not be getting with the Sony a5000, sadly.	The Sony a3000 also does not come with a touch screen. So, you also will not be able to control this camera just by tapping on its LCD screen.
No built-in Bluetooth	The Sony a5000 does not come with Bluetooth, and that essentially means that apart from the built-in Wi-Fi, this camera does not give you another option for wireless connectivity. A lot of us are privy to the efficiency and efficacy of Bluetooth connectivity, so, it is no news how much you will be missing out on by not having this in your camera.	The Sony a3000 also does not come with a built-in Bluetooth. This only further buttresses what we said early on in this Sony a5000 vs a3000 comparison article about the a3000 leaving you totally stranded when it comes to wireless connectivity.
No top side LCD screen	This camera does not come with a little screen that displays the settings being made on the camera.	You also will not be getting that screen on the top side of the Sony a3000.
No external microphone jack	This is some real bad news for those who are looking to do a lot of video and audio recording. The Sony a5000 does not provide an option to use an external microphone to get awesome sound quality. What that means is that if you have to record with this camera, you would have to make use of the camera’s internal microphone, which may not always give you the results you desire.	Just like the Sony a5000, the Sony a3000 does not allow you attach an external microphone; it does not come with an external microphone jack. Therefore, you will not be getting better audio quality than what the internal microphone offers in your recordings.
No headphone jack	Just like you won’t be able to attach an external microphone, you also won’t be able to attach headphones to the Sony a5000. Headphones usually help in regulating the sound one is getting while recording audio, and so, a lack of headphone jack is something you might be missing if you will be doing a lot of recording.	You also do not get a headphone jack with the Sony a3000.
No built-in GPS	You will not be able to track the location at which images were taken with the Sony a5000, because this camera does not come with a built-n GPS.	The Sony a3000 also does not come with a built-in GPS.
No slow motion	The Sony a5000 does not come with the feature that allows you record slow motion videos.	Same as the Sony a5000.
Average burst mode speed	If you intend to take photos of a moving person or object, shooting in burst mode is your best shot at getting a good image. And well, the faster the burst mode speed, the better your chances. Well, at 4 frames per second, the burst mode speed of the Sony a5000 is only average, at best. This might not exactly be getting you the type of images you seek in such conditions.	At 3 frames per second, the burst mode of the Sony a3000 is slightly worse than that of the a5000.
Average low light performance	With an ISO range of 100 to 16000, Sony could have done better with this camera’s performance in low light. Basically, the ISO range of a camera reflects that camera’s sensitivity to light. So, a higher ISO maximum means that your camera is quite sensitive to light, and as such, will be able to get good images in low light without even needing a flash.	The Sony a3000 also has an ISO range of 100 to 1600. It also is not expandable, and we believe it could have been made better.
No weather sealing	The body of this camera is not weather sealed. So, if the Sony a5000 is exposed to humidity, snow, rain, and other harsh weather conditions, it could be badly damaged.	The Sony a3000 is also not weather sealed.

What Do People Think About Both Cameras?

Sony a5000	Sony a3000
Customers seem to be very impressed with the quality of images that the Sony a5000 produces. They have also said that it is easy to shoot with, even for a beginner. Also, photographers have said that this camera has such a lovely grip.	People love that this camera is portable, easy to use, and also has a large sensor. Also, the fact that an external flash can be used on this camera had a number of customers excited.
Many who have used this camera have said that it was worth their every penny. According to them, getting the Sony a5000 was very economical. Furthermore, a lot of people seem to be loving the fact that they can easily take selfies with this camera, and so, have recommended it to YouTubers and vloggers.	Although it does not have image stabilization, a number of customers seem to be recommending this one for events photography, particularly because of its option for a more advanced external flash.
Some amateur photographers have said that they would have loved if this camera came with a touch screen. However, they seem to be really enjoying the ease that the built-in Wi-Fi offers them in transferring files, especially with the NFC technology it comes with.	Many were not so happy that this camera did not come with a touch screen. And as you would have guessed, many also were not happy that this camera lacks a built-in Wi-Fi.
The downsides of this camera, according to many customers are its lack of a viewfinder, lack of an external flash hot shoe, and lack of image stabilization.	A lot of photographers have had really good things to say about the electronic viewfinder of this camera; in summary, it works really well.

Our Take — Sony a5000 vs a3000

Sony a5000	Sony a3000
In our opinion, the Sony a5000 is just the ideal entry-level camera. It is easy to use, it is portable and compact, and it is also quite affordable. So, if you are on a budget and you are looking for a camera that can serve you well, then the Sony a5000 could be an amazing choice for you.	The Sony a3000 is also an amazing entry-level camera. Easy to operate, lightweight, and inexpensive; just the camera you would love to kick start your photography career with.
There is a lot to love about this camera, but one thing that happens to stand out for us is the remote control function. We just love how the Sony a5000 shows that you can have lots of fun while shooting conveniently. Yet another thing that stands out is the selfie friendly LCD screen, this is yet another way you can have fun while you shoot. So, basically, if you are looking to have fun with your photography, this is just the camera for you.	What stands out for us about the Sony a3000 is how much control it gives you over your all round shoot with its electronic viewfinder. In addition to that, it is not very common to see an entry-level camera that can do so well in flash photography, so, this is one thing we really commend in the Sony a3000.
Furthermore, for a mirrorless Sony camera, a battery that can get you up to 420 shots per full charge is quite a big deal. So, yes, we are impressed by the battery capacity of this camera, too.	If the 420 shots per full charge of the Sony a5000’s battery is a big deal, how much more that of the Sony a3000 which can get you up to 470 more shots per full charge. You know, Sony cameras are not known for their batteries, so, seeing entry-level Sony cameras do this well in the battery department is pretty commendable.
Now, we understand that Sony was trying to make this camera as lightweight as possible, but we really do think that the electronic viewfinder is one feature that should not have been sacrificed. Furthermore, we really did think that image stabilization, and an external microphone jack, were each necessary features in this camera.	We would have loved it if this camera gave, at least, one option for wireless connectivity – either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Also, the Sony a3000’s screen resolution is less than impressive and it ought to have been better. We also think that a tilting or rotating LCD screen would have been a big plus in the Sony a3000.
We would recommend this camera to vloggers, YouTubers, tourists, vacationers, and people who are looking to start a career in photography.	We would recommend the Sony a3000 for any type of amateur photography; events photography more especially.