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Sony Alpha a5100 vs Sony Alpha a5000

Sony Alpha a5100

Sony Alpha a5100

Camera summary

The Sony Alpha a5100, made by Sony, is a powerful Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. Announced on Aug. 17, 2014.

See full specifications
Feature Score
Autofocus specs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Connectivity
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exposure mode
2.5 out of 5 stars
Photography features
4.3 out of 5 stars
Physical
0.4 out of 5 stars
Average Score
3.4 out of 5 stars

Predecessor

This camera builds on the success of its predecessor, the Sony Alpha a5000, with advanced features and improved performance.

Compare this camera to the Sony Alpha a5000

Sensor

This camera has a CMOS sensor with a 24 Megapixels resolution.

Focus points

This camera has 179 focus points. AF Face detection available, ideal for portraits and selfies. It offers AF tracking, which allows you to track moving objects

Max video resolutions

1920 x 1080

Expect recording in 1920 x 1080 with support for the following formats: MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S.

Connectivity

Built-in wireless connectivity. Support for HDMI, so you can connect it to screens, monitors or any compatible device. Support for USB, transfer files and upgrade your camera's software directly from your computer.

Battery life

NP-FW50

The battery of this camera can last up to 400 shots per charge with the included NP-FW50 battery. Consider that this value can fluctuate and depends on the mAh of the battery (sometimes generic batteries have more mAh) and also on the usage, the amount of time you use the screen, the flash, etc.

Although this camera may have a decent battery life, its performance is not as great as the most powerful cameras. Always make sure to carry one extra battery, just in case.

Other features

This camera doesn't include a microphone port, which can be a major headache when recording video or interviews, consider it before buying it.

Sony Alpha a5000

Sony Alpha a5000

Camera summary

The Sony Alpha a5000, made by Sony, is a powerful Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. Announced on Jan. 7, 2014.

See full specifications
Feature Score
Autofocus specs
4.1 out of 5 stars
Connectivity
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exposure mode
2.5 out of 5 stars
Photography features
4.3 out of 5 stars
Physical
0.4 out of 5 stars
Average Score
3.3 out of 5 stars

Predecessor

This camera builds on the success of its predecessor, the Sony Alpha NEX-3N, with advanced features and improved performance.

Compare this camera to the Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Successor

This camera has now been superseeded by the Sony Alpha a5100, which has more advanced features and characteristics, it would also be easier to get, especially new. Take that into account.

Aside from that, consider that you may probably need to update your camera soon and finding accesories could be more difficult compared to its successor. Of course you can expect a lower price for this camera as a compensation.

Compare this camera to its successor Sony Alpha a5100

Sensor

This camera has a CMOS sensor with a 20 Megapixels resolution.

Focus points

This camera has 25 focus points. AF Face detection available, ideal for portraits and selfies. It offers AF tracking, which allows you to track moving objects

Max video resolutions

1920 x 1080

Expect recording in 1920 x 1080 with support for the following formats: MPEG-4, AVCHD.

Connectivity

Built-in wireless connectivity. Support for HDMI, so you can connect it to screens, monitors or any compatible device. Support for USB, transfer files and upgrade your camera's software directly from your computer.

Battery life

NP-FW50

The battery of this camera can last up to 420 shots per charge with the included NP-FW50 battery. Consider that this value can fluctuate and depends on the mAh of the battery (sometimes generic batteries have more mAh) and also on the usage, the amount of time you use the screen, the flash, etc.

Although this camera may have a decent battery life, its performance is not as great as the most powerful cameras. Always make sure to carry one extra battery, just in case.

Other features

This camera doesn't include a microphone port, which can be a major headache when recording video or interviews, consider it before buying it.

Autofocus specs

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Af center
Yes
Yes
Af continuous
Yes
Yes
Af Contrast Detection
Yes
Yes
Af Face detection
Yes
Yes
Af live view
Yes
Yes
Af multi area
Yes
Yes
Af phase detection
Yes
No
Af selective
Yes
Yes
Af single
Yes
Yes
Af touch
Yes
No
Af tracking
Yes
Yes
Number of cross focus points - -
Number of focus points 179 25

Connectivity

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
HDMI
Yes
Yes
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Wireless connectivity Built-In Built-In
DXO color depth 23.8 23.8
DXO dynamic range 12.7 13.0
DXO low light ISO 1347.0 1089.0
DXO overall score 80.0 79.0

Exposure mode

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
AF area
No
No
average
No
No
Center weighted
Yes
Yes
Multi segment
Yes
Yes
partial
No
No
spot
Yes
Yes

General

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
AKA - -
announced Aug. 17, 2014 Jan. 7, 2014
Body type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
brand Sony Sony
msrp $444.50 $329.95
model Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Predecessor model Sony Alpha a5000 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Successor model Sony Alpha a5100

Lense

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Focal length multiplier 1.5x 1.5x
Lens mount Sony E Sony E
Manual focus
Yes
Yes
Macro focus range - -
Number of lenses 284 284

Other features

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
GPS - -
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot)) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Storage slots 1 1
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Timelapse recording
No
No

Photography features

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
AE bracketing
Yes
Yes
Aperture priority
Yes
Yes
Built-in flash
Yes
Yes
Custom white balance
Yes
Yes
Exposure compensation
Yes
Yes
External flash
No
No
Flash modes Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Image stabilization
No
No
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Yes
Max continuous shooting 6.0 fps 4.0 fps
Max mechanical shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Minimum shutter speed 30 30
Shutter priority
Yes
Yes
WB bracketing
Yes
Yes

Physical

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Battery life 400 shots 420 shots
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-FW50
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Crush proof
No
No
Dust proof
No
No
Environmental sealing
No
No
Freeze proof
No
No
Physical dimensions 110 x 63 x 36mm 110 x 63 x 36mm
Shock proof
No
No
Water proof
No
No
Weight 283 grs 269 grs

Screen

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Live view
Yes
Yes
Screen resolution 922 461
Screen size - -
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Touch screen
Yes
No

Sensor

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Max boosted ISO - -
Max image resolution 6000 x 4000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Yes
Yes
Sensor area - -
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6 mm 23.2 x 15.4 mm
Sensor resolution 24 20
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor type CMOS CMOS

Headphone port

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
Headphone port
No
No
Max video resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Microphone port
No
No
Video formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)

Viewfinder

Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Alpha a5000
viewfinder - -
viewfinder coverage - -
viewfinder magnification - -
viewfinder resolution no electronic viewfinder no electronic viewfinder