Sony A3000 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Sony Alpha A3000? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Sony makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the A3000 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
In any case, the A3000 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on August 27th, 2013, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3867 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued, but there has not been a direct replacement model for the A3000 from Sony.
Sony's handbook for the A3000
The camera's handbook is 195 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the A3000 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Sony Alpha A3000 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Sony's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Sony A3000 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Sony A3000 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A3000.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Sony A3000?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Sony A3000 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the A3000 with the BIONZ image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony A3000?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 16000.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha A3000?
Sony does not publish a shutter rating for the A3000. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A3000?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A3000 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A3000?
The A3000 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Sony A3000 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony A3000 for flash photography?
The A3000's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Which battery does the Sony A3000 use?
The camera gets its power from the Sony NP-FW50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Further reading
How does the A3000 stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 10D vs Sony A3000
- Canon 5D vs Sony A9 II
- Canon 700D vs Sony A9 II
- Canon M50 Mark II vs Sony A3000
- Canon SL2 vs Sony A3000
- Fujifilm X-A10 vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X-A3 vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X100VI vs Sony A3000
- Leica TL2 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D3 vs Sony A3000
- Olympus E-P5 vs Sony A3000
- Sony A6000 vs Sony A9 II
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Sony Alpha A3000.
Camera Model | Sony A3000 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
Launch Date | August 2013 | |
Launch Price | USD 329 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 23.2 x 15.4 mm | |
Sensor Area | 357 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 27.8 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
Sensor Resolution | 19.8 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 5 456 x 3 632 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.25 μm | |
Pixel Density | 5.55 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60i Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 16 000 ISO | |
Image Processor | BIONZ | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 78 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.7 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.8 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1068 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.47x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 202k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 230k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 2.5 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | no | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Sony NP-FW50 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 470 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
128 x 91 x 85 mm (5.0 x 3.6 x 3.3 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 411 g (14.5 oz) |
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