Support this site by shopping below

To compare real-life performance we shot the same scene with the Sony Alpha A230, Canon EOS 1000D / XS and Nikon D3000 within a few moments of each other using their best quality JPEG settings, lowest base sensitivities and default processing options. Each camera was fitted with its respective kit lens (see details below) and adjusted to deliver the same vertical field of view. Each shot was taken in Aperture Priority at f8 with Auto White Balance.

The most obvious difference between the three models below is a softer overall image from the Nikon D3000. This initially looks like a slight focusing error, but we retook the same composition multiple times with the same result. We also shot an alternative test composition, this time with the lenses zoomed-in, and again the same thing happened.

As you'll see in our RAW comparison at the bottom of this page though, the softness seen here is down to comparatively mild sharpening being applied to in-camera JPEGs. For some subjects you don't really notice, but at other times, such as here, the D3000 can come across as looking quite soft.

This becomes all the more obvious when the Canon and Sony models pictured alongside have their sharpening settings turned-up higher than Nikon by default, but if you’re after something punchier from the D3000, it’s easily adjusted using the Picture Controls.

Beyond sharpening differences, you’ll notice Canon and Sony have opted for comparatively warm and cold white balances respectively, as we’ve also seen on their previous models. Finally, the Canon kit lens is exhibiting the most obvious coloured fringing in the mountain ridge crop although look closely and you’ll also see evidence of it on the Nikon and Sony samples too. The D3000 doesn't appear to correct fringing in-camera like other current Nikon DSLRs.

Looking beyond the sharpening differences, all three cameras are delivering essentially the same degree of real-life detail, which isn’t surprising considering they share the same sensor resolution and are operating here under ideal conditions at 100 ISO, f8 and bright sunlight. Despite these technical similarities though, there’s noticeable differences to how they handle noise at higher sensitivities, so to see how they compare, check out our Sony Alpha A230 High ISO Noise results.

Alternatively if you can wait a moment longer, scroll down to the bottom of this page to see what benefits there are to shooting in RAW with the A230.