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Sony A5000 vs A3000

The Sony Alpha A5000 and the Sony Alpha A3000 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2014 and August 2013. Both the A5000 and the A3000 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 19.8 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A5000
versus
Sony A3000
Sony A5000   Sony A3000
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
19.8 MP – APS-C sensor 19.8 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60i Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 100-16,000 ISO 100-16,000
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (202k dots)
3.0" LCD – 461k dots 3.0" LCD – 230k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.5 shutter flaps per second 2.5 shutter flaps per second
420 shots per battery charge470 shots per battery charge
110 x 63 x 36 mm, 269 g 128 x 91 x 85 mm, 411 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A5000 and the Sony Alpha A3000? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A5000 and the Sony A3000 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The A5000 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the A3000 is only available in black.

Size Sony A5000 vs Sony A3000
Compare A5000 versus A3000 top
Comparison A5000 or A3000 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A3000 is considerably larger (68 percent) than the Sony A5000. Moreover, the A3000 is substantially heavier (53 percent) than the A5000. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the A5000 nor the A3000 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A5000 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 269 g 420 n Jan 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D3300 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 430 g 700 n Jan 2014 499ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A6400 120 mm 67 mm 50 mm 403 g 410 Y Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A5100 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 283 g 400 n Aug 2014 549ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
9.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony NEX-3N 110 mm 62 mm 35 mm 269 g 480 n Feb 2013 499ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-5T 111 mm 59 mm 39 mm 276 g 330 n Aug 2013 699ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX1R 113 mm 65 mm 70 mm 482 g 270 n Jun 2013 2,799ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 749ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-6 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 345 g 360 n Sep 2012 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony NEX-7 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 400 g 430 n Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The A3000 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 27 percent) than the A5000, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of chip-set technology, the A5000 uses a more advanced image processing engine (BIONZ X) than the A3000 (BIONZ), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Sony A5000 and Sony A3000 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 19.8 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the A5000 and the A3000 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the A5000 is a somewhat more recent model (by 4 months) than the A3000, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Sony Alpha A5000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 16000. The Sony Alpha A3000 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A5000 versus A3000 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.0108979
2.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
3.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
4.
 
Nikon D3300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.8138582
5.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
7.
 
Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.7134780
8.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
9.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
10.
 
Sony NEX-3N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.812.5106774
11.
 
Sony NEX-5T APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60p23.613.0101578
12.
 
Sony RX1R Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.013.6253791
13.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
14.
 
Sony NEX-6 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.1101878
15.
 
Sony NEX-7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.113.4101681
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60i).

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A3000 has an electronic viewfinder (202k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the A5000 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony A5000 and Sony A3000 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D3300optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Sony A64002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
8.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
9.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Sony NEX-3Noptional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
11.
 
Sony NEX-5Toptional n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
12.
 
Sony RX1Roptional n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony NEX-62359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
15.
 
Sony NEX-72359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The A5000 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the A3000 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A5000 and the A3000 write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A5000 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the A3000 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A5000 and Sony Alpha A3000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A5000-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Nikon D3300Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
5.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Sony A5100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Sony NEX-3N-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
11.
 
Sony NEX-5TYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony RX1RYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony NEX-6Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
15.
 
Sony NEX-7Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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It is notable that the A5000 offers wifi support, while the A3000 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both the A5000 and the A3000 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A5000 was replaced by the Sony A5100, while the A3000 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the A5000 and A3000 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A5000 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A3000 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Sony A5000 and the Sony A3000? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Advantages of the Sony Alpha A5000:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (BIONZ X vs BIONZ).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (461k vs 230k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.5 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (110x63mm vs 128x91mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 142g or 35 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 4 months after the A3000).


Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A3000:

  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (470 versus 420) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (27 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in August 2013).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A5000 is the clear winner of the match-up (11 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A5000 11:05 A3000

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A5000 and the Sony A3000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the A5000 and the A3000 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A50003/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D33003/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 499ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A51004.5/5+....4.5/55/5 Aug 2014 549ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
9.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony NEX-3N3/5......4.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 499ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-5T........4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 699ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX1R5/5......4/54.5/5 Jun 2013 2,799ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 749ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-65/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony NEX-75/5+ +..81/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Sony A5000 vs Sony A3000

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A5000 Sony A3000
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2014 August 2013
    Launch Price USD 449 USD 329
    Sensor Specs Sony A5000 Sony A3000
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.2 x 15.4 mm 23.2 x 15.4 mm
    Sensor Area 357.28 mm2 357.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 27.8 mm 27.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 19.8 Megapixels 19.8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5456 x 3632 pixels 5456 x 3632 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.25 μm 4.25 μm
    Pixel Density 5.55 MP/cm2 5.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 16,000 ISO 100 - 16,000 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 79 78
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.8 23.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.0 12.8
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1089 1068
    Screen Specs Sony A5000 Sony A3000
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.47x
    Viewfinder Resolution 202k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 461k dots 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Sony A5000 Sony A3000
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 3.5 shutter flaps/s 2.5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I no
    Connectivity Specs Sony A5000 Sony A3000
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in no Wifi
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Body Specs Sony A5000 Sony A3000
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)420 shots per charge470 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 110 x 63 x 36 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 in)
    128 x 91 x 85 mm
    (5.0 x 3.6 x 3.3 in)
    Camera Weight 269 g (9.5 oz) 411 g (14.5 oz)
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