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Sony A100

 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
 
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Sony A100 summary

Sony A100 is Sony's Entry-Level DSLR camera originally announced on July of 2006. The camera houses a 10MP, CCD APS-C size sensor with a max resolution of 3872 x 2592.

Sony released this camera as a way to update the previous Konica Minolta 5D (Read Full Comparison) and then introduced the fresher Sony A550 (Read Full Comparison) in order to replace this camera.

The A100 ranks at #66 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras and over all #571 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should look at our Smart camera search to find camera rankings based on your customized criteria.

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Below is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Sony A100 family

The Sony A100 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can look at all older and latest models alongside main specifications.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-SLT-A68 front thumbnailSony A68
A100 vs A68
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2015
Sony-SLT-A58 front thumbnailSony A58
A100 vs A58
20MPAPS-C8.0 fps2013
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Sony-SLT-A57 front thumbnailSony A57
A100 vs A57
16MPAPS-C12.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A37 front thumbnailSony A37
A100 vs A37
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A65 front thumbnailSony A65
A100 vs A65
24MPAPS-C10.0 fps2011
Sony-SLT-A35 front thumbnailSony A35
A100 vs A35
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2011
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A580 front thumbnailSony A580
A100 vs A580
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2011
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A560 front thumbnailSony A560
A100 vs A560
14MPAPS-C5.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A33 front thumbnailSony A33
A100 vs A33
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A55 front thumbnailSony A55
A100 vs A55
16MPAPS-C10.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A390 front thumbnailSony A390
A100 vs A390
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A290 front thumbnailSony A290
A100 vs A290
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A450 front thumbnailSony A450
A100 vs A450
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550 front thumbnailSony A550
A100 vs A550
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500 front thumbnailSony A500
A100 vs A500
12MPAPS-C5.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A380 front thumbnailSony A380
A100 vs A380
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A330 front thumbnailSony A330
A100 vs A330
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A230 front thumbnailSony A230
A100 vs A230
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A200 front thumbnailSony A200
A100 vs A200
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A350 front thumbnailSony A350
A100 vs A350
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A300 front thumbnailSony A300
A100 vs A300
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A100 front thumbnailSony A10010MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Sony A100 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of upsides and downsides of the Sony A100 based on things that are oftentimes considered necessary in a camera.

built-in flash
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has manual focus
supports phase detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
very good minimum ISO (100)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have HDMI port
does not have headphone port
does not have mic port
does not have Time Lapse function
lack of video recording
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution screen (230 k dot)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
no articulating screen
no liveview
small screen (2.5 inch)
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Sony A100 Sensor features

The sensor size on the Sony A100 is 23.6mm x 15.8mm (APS-C). The 373 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 3872 x 2592 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 10 megapixels and delivers a native ISO range of 100 to 1600. RAW photos are saved which means that you have more room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below displays the A100's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The A100 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.

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To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A100 dimensions

Sony A100 weighs around 1.41 pounds (638 grams or 22.50 oz) and the physical size of the camera is 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8"). The weight of typical Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540 grams and the Sony A100 is heavier as compared with other rivals.

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Below is a pic of the Sony A100 alongside a soda so you're able to have a feel for its size.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 dimensions scale

The top view here will provide the button layout on the A100.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 topview buttons dials

Sony A100 Lens features

The A100 works with the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and has 145 lenses that are available. Here is a small number of the lenses we have in our database that will fit the A100.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sony-20mm-F2.8 lensSony 20mm F2.820mmf/2.8 285g
Tamron-AF-70-300mm-F4-5.6-Di-LD-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensTamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di LD Macro70-300mmf/4.0-5.6 435g
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Sigma-50-200mm-F4-5.6-DC-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM50-200mmf/4.0-5.6 420g
Tamron-AF-18-250mm-F3.5-6.3-Di-II-LD-Aspherical-IF-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensTamron AF 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro18-250mmf/3.5-6.3 430g
Lensbaby-Burnside-35-Sony-Alpha lensLensbaby Burnside 3535mmf/2.8374g
Samyang-85mm-F1.4-Aspherical-IF-Sony-Alpha lensSamyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF85mmf/1.4 539g
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Sigma-17-70mm-F2.8-4-DC-MACRO-OS-HSM-C-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM C17-70mmf/2.8-4.0 465g
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Sony A100 Connectivity

The A100 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth support can be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to copy photos and at times adjust settings without connecting physically with the camera.

A few apps also allow a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external display. Many cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack with the USB socket.

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Sony A100 Video features

Sony A100 doesn't take video. If you are looking for a camera to shoot just photos, it is not a concern.

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Sony A100 Weather Sealing

Sony A100 does not have environment proofing so damp conditions can affect the camera.

Sony A100 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony A100 is equipped with a 2.5" fixed display having a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the display is not a touch screen.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 screen and viewfinder TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Sony A100 are below:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 95 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.55x

Viewfinders are pretty useful in bright outdoor conditions which can make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Sony A100 Shutter features

Sony A100 continuous shooting speed is 3.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Sony A100 Flash and Hot shoe features

Sony A100 has got both in-built flash and also external flash support. The max flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Sony A100 Autofocus features

Sony A100 has got both Phase Detect Autofocus along with Contrast Based Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker and accurate as compared with Contrast Based autofocusing.

The AF system supports 9 focus points to select from. Sony A100 has the ability to use manual focusing when required in low light situations or you want to have more exact control on focusing.

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Sony A100 Battery life

The usual Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x offers the maximum (1900) battery life in this class of cameras.

Following is a list of Entry-Level DSLR cameras that come with the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
A100 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Sony A100 for specific categories of photography

The following diagram provides a summary of the Sony A100 for specific categories of photography. To view more, check out the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Sony A100

The Sony A100 receives a rating of 53 which is reasonable, and means the camera is somewhat adequate for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimension, RAW support plus the potential to work with external lighting.

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has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)

Sony A100 Street photography information

Coming in at a above average points total of 65, the Sony A100 is a fine choice to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed

Sony A100 Sports photography details

A reasonable sports photography points tally of 49 suggests the Sony A100 is somewhat appropriate for photographing sports. A camera should have fantastic autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)

Sony A100 Travel photography factors

Size is very crucial in picking a camera for travel. All round, the Sony A100 gets a low 45 for a travelling camera which makes it not really good for your vacations.

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flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display

Sony A100 Landscape photography highlights

If you're looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photos, the most significant factor will be image quality. The Sony A100 with it's modest rating of 53 as a landscape camera is somewhat adequate in the current marketplace.

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manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview feature
low MP (10MP)
no Time Lapse mode

Sony A100 as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging ought to posses a moving display, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Considering all things, the Sony A100 is not really good for vlogging as it delivers a low rating of 9.

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can't record video

Sony A100 Alternatives

If you are searching for alternatives to the A100, below is a number of the top rated cameras which fall within the category of Entry-Level DSLR.

The graph followed below shows you an overview of the A100 vs it's top ranking competitors listed previously.

Following are additional cameras you might take into account as alternative options. To read through a complete comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model type
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Type
Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed
2006-07-31
Body design
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area
372.9mm²
Sensor resolution
10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Max resolution
3872 x 2592
RAW pictures
Max native ISO
1600
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens support
Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses
143
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
2.5 inch
Display resolution
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.55x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
61
DXO Color Depth rating
22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating
11.2
DXO Low light rating
476
Features
Min shutter speed
30s
Max shutter speed
1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed
3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash settings
Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync
1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution
None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
638 gr (1.41 pounds)
Dimensions
133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
Other
Battery ID
NP-FM55H
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots
1
Cost at release
$1,000