Canon SL1 vs Sony A3000

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon SL1 vs Sony A3000

APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon SL1 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon SL1 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the SL1.
Compare Canon SL1 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon SL1 conclusion.

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.

Succeeded by the Canon SL2
Compare SL1 vs SL2
Compare Canon SL2 vs Sony A3000

Buy From

Differences

Canon SL1 advantages over Sony A3000

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.60 vs 2.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Higher-res screen
346k vs 77k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More viewfinder magnification
0.54x 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
3.9 fps vs 3.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
1140 vs 11 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A3000 advantages over Canon SL1

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A3000 test data on DxO Mark SL1 test data on DxO Mark

1,068 vs 843 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A3000 test data on DxO Mark SL1 test data on DxO Mark

12.8 vs 11.3 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
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 380 shots
Capture more photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read SL1 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A3000 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SL1

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A3000

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All A3000 Deals

Review Excerpt

Extremely compact and lightweight for a DSLR; Delivers good image quality that's virtually identical to the Canon T4i/T5i; Accurate and relatively fast autofocus with improved Live View and Movie Hybrid CMOS II AF; Full 1080p HD movie recording; Better-than average kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).
Still not as compact as most mirrorless cameras; Slightly worse than average dynamic range and high ISO performance; Poor battery life.
Read our Canon SL1 Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-01

Canon SL1

Pentax K-01

$549
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Touchscreen

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs 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

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Canon SL1

Pentax K-5 IIs

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A3000

Pentax K-5 IIs

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A3000 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Sony A58

Canon SL1

Sony A58

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Sony A58

Sony A3000

Sony A58

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$598
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony A3000 vs Sony A58

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon SL1

Pentax K-S1

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-S1

Sony A3000

Pentax K-S1

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$502
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A3000 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Sigma sd Quattro

Canon SL1

Sigma sd Quattro

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Lens selection

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Newer

Compare Canon SL1 vs 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

Compare Other Cameras?